Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Peak District

Confidence

Moderate for rain and cloud detail, becoming low for the weekend.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy and windy with showers, but also some drier spells.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Fog Cloudy Sunny intervals Light rain Light rain showers Light rain showers (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
30%
20%
20%
40%
30%
30%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m W 22mph knots
W
22mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
W 29mph knots
W
29mph
W 31mph knots
W
31mph
W 30mph knots
W
30mph
W 25mph knots
W
25mph
300m
300m W 16mph knots
W
16mph
SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
W 23mph knots
W
23mph
W 24mph knots
W
24mph
W 24mph knots
W
24mph
W 19mph knots
W
19mph
Valley
Valley W 12mph knots
W
12mph
W 14mph knots
W
14mph
W 17mph knots
W
17mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 17mph knots
W
17mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m 28mph 33mph 38mph 41mph 40mph 34mph
300m
300m 23mph 27mph 33mph 34mph 33mph 27mph
Valley
Valley 23mph 26mph 32mph 35mph 34mph 27mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius
Valley
Valley 12 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2400m
2100m
2200m
2300m
2300m
2200m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Strong winds at height will give difficult walking conditions, along with a chilling effect especially in showers. Gusts may reach 50mph on highest summits and exposed ridges. Waterproofs and warm layers likely to be needed. Despite this, sunburn is still possible in any sunnier intervals.

Weather

Mostly cloudy with a risk of isolated showers through the day, but some drier and brighter spells of weather too. Showers perhaps a little more frequent into the evening, when one or two showers could be heavy. Windy.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40% becoming 100% by mid-morning, then 80% during the evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud at first with bases 400-600m, this lifting above summits during the morning, but some patches returning during the evening. Cloud lowest and most extensive across the west of the Park. Visibility good away from cloud and showers, but poor in heavier showers and very poor in low cloud covering the hills.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast