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

Yellow weather warning in force for Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for unsettled, often wintry conditions throughout the forecast period, including a period of very strong winds on Thursday. Lower for the snow-level on Friday, and the timings of arrival and clearance of more persistent bands of rain and snow, especially by the weekend.

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 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 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 Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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 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.

Mountain weather forecast

Very windy with heavy rain spreading south. Snow on summits after dark.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 600m)
Light rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Sleet Heavy snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 600m)
40% 50% 90% 90% 90% 70%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m SW
39
S
34
SW
41
SW
43
SW
27
SW
23
300m SW
20
S
20
SW
25
SW
27
SW
15
SW
13
Valley SW
16
S
18
SW
25
SW
20
SW
13
SW
11
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m 50 44 55 60 38 32
300m 40 41 51 53 32 28
Valley 38 41 53 41 28 24

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
300m
Valley
11°
Freezing Level
1,200m
1,500m
1,800m
1,600m
1,000m
800m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
-3°
-2°
-3°
-5°
300m
Valley

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Winds will become very gusty across the higher routes and summits, with gusts are likely to approach 70mph for a time, bringing a chance of being blown over. Even for lower level walks progress is likely to be impeded times, with sudden gusts likely, especially during the afternoon. Warm waterproof layers essential.

Weather

A cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain turning persistent, and then briefly heavier later in the afternoon. Winds also strengthening throughout, becoming very strong and gusty for time. Rain will then ease during the evening with showers following. The snow level also falling after dark to be around 500m by midnight.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Little chance in west by day, but improving to 30% after dark. 40% throughout in the east.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud obscuring hills above 500m in the west, but more occasional with some routes above 700m clear in the east. Some patches possible down to 400m during heaviest rain during the afternoon. Cloud breaking during the evening. Outside of cloud, visibility will be good falling to several kilometres in rain and drizzle. Improving to be very good after dark, but very poor in any snowfall, with near blizzard conditions on the summits.

Recent rainfall

Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
Last 24 hoursLast 48 hoursLast 72 hours
0mm5.4mm6.5mm
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

Cold start, with tops and high level routes likely icy after Thursdays rain. Sunny spells and isolated showers expected, these falling as snow above 300m during the morning, before this snow level gradually rises to around 700m by the late afternoon. Still breezy, with a notable chill, although not as windy as Thursday.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80% falling to 30% during the evening.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwesterly 30-35mph gusting 40-50mph.

Temperature

  • At 600m Minus 2 Celsius rising Zero Celsius
  • Valley Plus 1 Celsius rising to Plus 7 Celsius
  • Freezing level 450m rising just above summits through the afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud largely above summit level, though the odd patch could obscure routes above 600m during the day. An area of more widespread cloud then moves in from the north through the evening, widely obscuring routes above 500m, with the odd patch down to 400m. Outside of cloud, visibility will be very good, falling to around 5-10 kilometres in rain, and a kilometre or so in any snow.

Mountain weather information

Sat 14 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A few early wintry showers then mainly dry with sunny spells. Cloud increasing through the evening. Occasionally strong westerly winds backing southwesterly and easing. Freezing level around 700m.

Sun 15 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with rain, preceded by snow on higher summits, clearing to sunny spells and blustery wintry showers in afternoon. Windy with summit gales. Freezing level above summits, falling to 600m later.

Mon 16 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Early wintry showers dying out with sunny spells developing but cloud and rain spreading east in afternoon. Strong westerly winds, summit gales, easing. Freezing level 600m, rising later.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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