Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for an unsettled and changeable period of weather. Lower for rain or snow detail so please keep updated on the forecast.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly dry today. Rain and sleet with summit gales arriving soon after dark.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
40% | 30% | 30% | 20% | >95% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
S
18
|
S
21
|
S
24
|
SE
30
|
SE
41
|
SE
31
|
| 300m |
S
13
|
S
16
|
S
20
|
SE
25
|
SE
33
|
SE
26
|
| Valley |
S
7
|
SE
7
|
SE
11
|
SE
15
|
SE
22
|
SE
18
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 27 | 29 | 31 | 39 | 52 | 40 |
| 300m | 22 | 24 | 28 | 35 | 48 | 38 |
| Valley | 19 | 19 | 25 | 33 | 47 | 38 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Mainly fair conditions during daylight hours but note the quick deterioration after dark. Rain or sleet, accompanied by gale force winds, will bring difficult conditions later.
Weather
Mainly dry and cloudy with some bright spells, patchy low cloud and isolated showers. Thicker cloud and heavy rain spreads northeast after dusk, perhaps falling as sleet for a couple of hours above 600m. This evening scattered heavy showers follow the rain.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, becoming 10% after dusk.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud above 400m at first, this lifting by early afternoon with mostly very good visibility expected today with distant hills visible. However, conditions deteriorate after dusk with extensive cloud giving poor visibility above 400-500m.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 16.6mm | 16.8mm | 17.2mm |
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
Scattered showers at first, some heavy and possibly thundery, perhaps easing later in the night. There will be further showers through the day, heavy at times, but also some drier and brighter intervals.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 25mph gusts 35mph overnight, decreasing Southwest 15-20mph.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 5C to 6C.
- Valley Plus 5C rising to 10C.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud with bases 500 to 600m giving periods of very poor visibility. Good visibility on lower slopes, occasionally few km in showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Scattered showers at first before a band of rain moves east through the day accompanied by strong summit winds. Later dry and clearer conditions arrive. Freezing level above summits.
Mon 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
This is likely to be a brighter day with scattered showers. Strong southwest winds on the tops. Wet, stormy conditions perhaps arriving late evening. Freezing level above summits.
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A lot of uncertainty by this stage but a spell of wet and very windy conditions is likely followed by brighter weather from the southwest. Mild with freezing level above 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 Peak District is home to a wide variety of magnificent hills, moors, outcrops and gritstone edges.