Mountain weather

Peak District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Generally high overall for Sunday and Monday, but becoming moderate to low regarding details of rain through the week.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard 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

Initial low cloud generally clearing to sunny spells.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 600m)
Fog Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Heavy rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 600m)
20% 10% 10% 20% 60% 60%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m W
28
SW
26
W
31
W
26
SW
24
W
28
300m SW
18
SW
18
W
22
W
20
SW
19
SW
21
Valley W
12
SW
11
W
15
W
14
SW
12
W
13
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m 35 34 41 35 32 38
300m 26 26 31 29 27 31
Valley 25 24 30 28 26 29

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
300m
Valley
10°
10°
Freezing Level
1,400m
1,200m
1,300m
1,300m
1,300m
1,200m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
-1°
-2°
300m
Valley

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Conditions generally becoming good once early morning low cloud lifts, but breezy conditions and risk of showers still giving a risk of severe wind chill along the tops, so make sure to bring waterproofs and warm layers.

Weather

Rain in the early hours will soon clear, though low cloud will linger over the hills initially, especially on western slopes. This will gradually lift and break through the morning, allowing some sunny spells to develop. Showers will then move across the region during the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% overnight, becoming 80% through the morning.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive low cloud down to 300-400 metres - perhaps lower across western peaks - will bring widespread very poor visibility during the early hours. This will gradually lift and break through the morning, with cloud bases rising to around 600-700 metres, perhaps capping the highest peaks at times. Away from cloud, visibility will become generally good or very good. Cloud bases and visibility may lower temporarily in and around showers.

Recent rainfall

Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
Last 24 hoursLast 48 hoursLast 72 hours
19.2mm29.4mm30.3mm
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.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain during the morning. More persistent rain, along with low cloud developing into the afternoon and lasting through the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70% initially, best breaks further east, widely falling to 10% during the afternoon and into the evening.

Maximum wind speed expected

West or southwest with mean speeds around 25mph, with gusts of 35mph on the summits.

Temperature

  • At 600m Plus 7-9 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 6-8 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud may linger around 600-700 metres through the morning, especially in the western areas of the park, visibility outside of cloud is generally good or very good. During the afternoon, conditions will deteriorate widely across the park, with cloud lowering to 300-400 metres. Visibility will become moderate or poor in rain, and very low within low cloud.

Mountain weather information

Tue 24 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly cloudy but largely dry, with some brightness at times. Breezy on the tops but mild with freezing levels above summits.

Wed 25 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy but likely dry for much of the day, with occasional outbreaks of rain during the evening. Breezy and remaining mild, with freezing levels above summits.

Thu 26 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Fresh to strong south to southwesterly winds and patchy hill fog. Scattered light showers before possible heavier rain later. Mild with freezing levels well above the summits.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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