Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
A cold period of weather with potential for snow accumulations and very cold conditions on the hills. Strong winds will enhance the wind chill for the midweek period, becoming slightly milder towards the weekend. Lower confidence in details of the milder air arriving by the weekend. Keep an eye on the most up to date forecasts.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry, bright and sunny conditions expected in daylight hours, strong northerly winds continuing, enhancing the very cold feel. Visibility generally very good in the wintry conditions.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
60% | 20% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
N
22
|
N
18
|
N
19
|
NW
18
|
NW
19
|
NW
19
|
| 300m |
N
14
|
NW
12
|
N
15
|
NW
14
|
NW
13
|
NW
11
|
| Valley |
N
14
|
N
17
|
N
13
|
N
12
|
N
11
|
N
12
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 28 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 30 | 29 |
| 300m | 30 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 26 |
| Valley | 34 | 35 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
0m
|
0m
|
100m
|
0m
|
0m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
| Valley |
-4°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A very cold day expected on the hills despite sunshine during the afternoon, with a very significant wind-chill factor at height. Freezing level will fall to surface level with any morning snow accumulations likely to be somewhat persistent.
Weather
Snowfall in the early hours will lead to some accumulations above around 100-200m and possible drifting of snow in places overnight, however precipitation will clear and winds will begin to ease during the early hours. Skies will clear towards dawn. Dry, bright conditions then likely into the day, with skies becoming increasingly clear. Winds will continue to be strong with a very cold feel to the day, alongside fresh snow accumulations, making conditions quite treacherous. Skies remaining clear into the evening with a severe frost expected and any lying snowfall likely to harden.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% initially, becoming 90% from late morning as early cloud lifts and clears.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud around 600m initially, this will left and clear during the morning with very little cloud cover during daylight hours. Visibility will be good and become excellent at times.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6mm | 6.6mm | 6.6mm |
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
A generally dry, sunny day expected although the chance of a wintry shower increase in the east of the range later. Remaining very cold with a hard frost overnight and temperatures reaching only low single digits maximum by day with fresh north-westerly winds continuing.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
95%, patchy cloud around summits in the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
North-westerly 15-20mph gusts 25-30mph.
Temperature
- At 600m Minus 6 rising to Minus 3.
- Valley Minus 3 rising to Plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level Surface level.
Low cloud and visibility
Perhaps some patchy cloud around 600m at times. Very good or excellent visibility expected.
Mountain weather information
Fri 21 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining cold in the northerly airflow, otherwise dry, bright and sunny, light north westerly winds backing south-westerly later in the day. Freezing level 200m rising to 800m later in the day.
Sat 22 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Southerly winds will introduce slightly milder air and some precipitation, the mix of snow/sleet and rain is uncertain at this time. Freezing level 800m rising to 1100m, low confidence.
Sun 23 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Expected to remain chilly with cloudier conditions and southerly winds, low confidence in the detail for later in the weekend.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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.