Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for generally unsettled conditions with a transition to milder weather later in the week, low for the details.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with showers then more persistent rain and summit snow.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
40% | 60% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
NE
20
|
NE
20
|
NE
17
|
NE
15
|
NE
16
|
NE
16
|
| 300m |
NE
13
|
NE
14
|
NE
10
|
NE
11
|
NE
10
|
NE
10
|
| Valley |
NE
17
|
NE
14
|
NE
12
|
NE
11
|
NE
10
|
NE
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 29 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
| 300m | 29 | 30 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
| Valley | 36 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
700m
|
800m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Nothing to add
Weather
Cloudy with a few showers overnight, falling as snow above around 200 metres at first, the snow level slowly rising top 600 metres. Cloudy through the day with showers giving way to more persistent rain and summit sleet or snow, which will be heavy at times. Little change during the evening with further rain and summit sleet or snow
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%
Low cloud and visibility
Broken or extensive cloud with bases 400-600 metres, locally down to 300 metres on the eastern fells. Moderate or poor visibilities.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4mm | 2.4mm | 3.4mm |
Measurement date:
Rainfall data provided by the Environment Agency. The Met Office is not responsible for content provided by third parties and may remove this data without warning.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Outbreaks of rain and summit snow turning more showery overnight. Cloudy through the day with showers turning lighter and more isolated, then mainly dry and cloudy during the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% improving 40% later..
Maximum wind speed expected
North or NE 15 gust 25 mph, slowly easing
Temperature
- At 600m Zero decreasing minus 3 Celsius later
- Valley Plus 2 rising to 4 Celsius
- Freezing level 600 metres lowering to 400 metres later
Low cloud and visibility
Broken cloud base 400-600 metres, with some patches down to 300 metres over the eastern fells at first, becoming more scattered during the evening. Visibilities good, but moderate or poor in early rain or showers.
Mountain weather information
Wed 6 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Any mist or fog patches in the valleys will clear during the morning, otherwise a dry and bright day with sunny spells. East to southeast winds strengthening during the evening.
Thu 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, perhaps some snow over the summits at first. Strong southeasterly winds with gales over the summits. Freezing level 600 metres, soon rising above the summits.
Fri 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some brighter spells, but generally a good deal of cloud with showers or longer outbreaks of rain. Winds easing, freezing level above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of 683 square miles and is a collection of rivers, valleys and hills.
The National Park lies within the county boundaries of historic Yorkshire with much of the landscape consisting of limestone country; lush green valleys known locally as 'dales' crested with white limestone cliffs known as 'scars'. Hidden beneath these hills and peaks is an underground world of caves and potholes with stalactites and stalagmites, cathedral sized chambers, underground rivers and waterfalls.
A gentler outlook awaits visitors in the Yorkshire Dales, compared to the much more imposing ranges of the Lake District. The tallest of the gentle rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales is Whernside, which reaches 736 metres. Known as the 'King of the Dales', Whernside may not be the tallest of mountains on offer in the UK, but still rewards those who make the journey with views that stretch for miles.
Walkers shouldn't be under the illusion that the Yorkshire Dales doesn't offer challenges for ardent mountain walkers. Instead, a 'Three Peaks Challenge', which takes in Whernside, Ingelborough and Pen-y-Ghent, sees walkers cover over 23 miles and almost 1,600 metres of ascent. The record for completing all three currently stands at around two and a half hours.