A drystone wall leading up a hill in the Yorkshire Dales.
Mountain weather

Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather for the next few days. Low for timing of clearance of rain on Friday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

A breezy and showery end to Wednesday with clear or sunny spells.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.
hazard Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
hazard 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.

Mountain weather forecast

A breezy day with decreasing chance of showers, some heavy in early hours. Rain arriving during evening.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 600m)
Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (night) Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Cloudy Light rain Light rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 600m)
60% 60% 30% 20% 40% 60% 70% 90%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m S
25
SW
29
SW
26
SW
23
SW
23
SW
21
SW
14
S
12
300m S
14
SW
18
SW
17
SW
16
SW
15
SW
14
SW
7
S
5
Valley S
13
SW
16
SW
13
SW
14
SW
15
SW
13
SW
6
S
5
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m 33 39 36 31 31 28 19 17
300m 30 36 33 30 28 25 17 15
Valley 30 34 28 28 27 24 15 14

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
300m
10°
11°
10°
Valley
10°
12°
12°
11°
Freezing Level
1,400m
1,300m
1,200m
1,200m
1,300m
1,300m
1,400m
1,400m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
-1°
-1°
-1°
300m
Valley
10°
10°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Warm waterproof layers will be essential, and be prepared for rather strong winds. UV levels will also increase in the midday sunshine.

Weather

Variable amounts of cloud with some clear then sunny intervals but also occasional showers moving through, especially to start the day in early hours of Thursday morning. They could be heavy with a low risk of lightning. Drier for a time in morning and despite some warm sunshine, it will be cold in the strong winds, especially at height, with noticeable wind chill effect.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50% in early hours becoming 90% or more by mid-morning, reducing again in evening to 70%.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of broken cloud will obscure hills and routes above 500m in early hours of the morning, before lifting and breaking after dawn with all hills likely clear by the afternoon. Cloud lowering again in evening rain with broken to overcast bases around 650m developing. Outside of cloud visibility will be mostly good or very good, but falling to moderate in passing showers and evening rain, and becoming poor or very poor in cloud.

Recent rainfall

Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
Last 24 hoursLast 48 hoursLast 72 hours
9mm9.4mm10.1mm
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

Cloudy with occasional rain and some drizzle for much of Friday morning. Drier, brighter and showery weather arriving from the west after lunch (midday), with drier conditions in the afternoon and evening. Strong southerly winds, becoming south-westerly post rain.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% in the morning becoming 80% or more from early to mid-afternoon onwards.

Maximum wind speed expected

South or Southwest with gusts across summits reaching 35-40mph.

Temperature

  • At 600m Plus 4 degrees Celsius rising to Plus 10 degrees Celsius.
  • Valley Plus 6 degrees Celsius rising to Plus 13 degrees Celsius.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Broken to overcast bases 5500m in the morning breaking and lifting above summits early to mid-afternoon. Visibility moderate or poor in morning rain and drizzle and very poor in cloud before then becoming mostly good or very good mid-afternoon onwards.

Mountain weather information

Sat 18 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A bright day with some sunshine and chance of a light shower. Strong, cold westerly summit winds.

Sun 19 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Some low cloud covering summits in early hours with variable cloud and some bright or sunny spells. Winds easing light west or northwesterly.

Mon 20 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Probably another similar day to Sunday with winds becoming light north or northeasterly, and dry weather with variable cloud amounts and some clear or sunny spells.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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