Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled, often wintry conditions throughout the forecast period, but lower for timings of arrival and clearance of more persistent bands of rain and snow.
This evening forecast
A few early clear spells but cloud soon increasing with patchy rain and drizzle developing, especially over western hills. Strengthening southwesterly winds, gusts around 50mph over ridges and summits by midnight.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
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
Heavy rain spreading south, turning to snow later. Very windy
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
20% | 20% | 30% | 40% | >95% | >95% | 90% | 60% |
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 |
SW
28
|
SW
33
|
SW
34
|
SW
34
|
SW
36
|
SW
38
|
SW
34
|
SW
24
|
| 300m |
SW
19
|
SW
20
|
SW
20
|
S
21
|
SW
23
|
SW
25
|
SW
22
|
SW
14
|
| Valley |
SW
15
|
SW
15
|
SW
17
|
S
20
|
SW
24
|
SW
23
|
W
17
|
SW
13
|
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 | 40 | 46 | 47 | 46 | 51 | 56 | 48 | 34 |
| 300m | 39 | 40 | 40 | 42 | 47 | 51 | 43 | 30 |
| Valley | 34 | 33 | 36 | 42 | 49 | 48 | 34 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
5°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
7°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,600m
|
1,700m
|
1,500m
|
1,300m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Increasing winds, gusts around 70mph over higher summits and ridges towards midday, making, along with very poor visibility, progress difficult. Warm waterproof clothing essential with significant chill developing at all levels.
Weather
Cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle, especially for western hills, overnight. Then a cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain becoming more persistent and heavier through the morning and persisting through the evening. Above about 600m the rain turns increasingly to snow, the rain and snow becoming lighter and patchier before clearing southeast through the late evening, with clear spells developing.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance in west, around 40% in east, improving through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud above about 600-750m, but more occasional at times above 750m in the east, lowering to 450-600m, with patches below, in the afternoon, cloud breaking to become occasional above 750m later in evening. Away from cloud, visibility good falling to several kilometres in rain and drizzle and a kilometre or less in any heavier snow, becoming very good towards midnight.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4mm | 6.4mm | 6.5mm |
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.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Clear or sunny spells and snow showers. Risk of more persistent snow, falling increasingly as rain below about 600m, developing in the late afternoon and evening, then clearing south later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 75% until mid-afternoon and again later, but falling close to zero in the late afternoon and through until late evening in west and 25% in east.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly or southwesterly 25-30mph, gusts around 50mph over ridges and summits, easing in evening.
Temperature
- At 600m Around zero Celsius
- Valley Around plus 2 or 3 Celsius at dawn rising to plus 7 or 8 Celsius by day
- Freezing level 600m falling to 450m, then rising to 750m through the late afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud above 750m, lowering to 600m at times in showers, but more persistent cloud expected to develop above 450-600m, but 600-750m in east, through the late afternoon and much of the evening. Away from cloud, visibility very good falling to a kilometre or so in snow showers and more persistent snow later.
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 750m.
Sun 15 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloud and rain clearing to sunny spells and blustery wintry showers in afternoon. Strengthening westerly winds. Freezing level rising above summits, falling to 600m later.
Mon 16 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early wintry showers dying out some sunny spells developing but cloud and rain spreading east later in day. Strong westerly winds easing. Freezing level 600m, rising above summits later.
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 Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of 683 square miles and is a collection of rivers, valleys and hills.