Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
The entire Yorkshire Dales National Park and North Pennines AONB, including the Three Peaks and Cross Fell, plus Howgills, also south to Forest of Bowland.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales in north England and Scotland, severe on the high Munros, gusting to storm force in the north; severe wind chills. Frequent or persistent rain across most mountains, falling as snow onto the high Munros from dawn, the snow level lowering with time; snow will be heavy with whiteout conditions in east Scotland.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Rainy and dull; windy, gales in the north
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 35 to 45mph, stronger gusts in places around high tops and downslope to west of the Pennines. Wind may strengthen for a few hours after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting, challenging in exposure where strongest gusts may require bracing for stability.. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Rain falls on all fells for most of the day, most persistent on southern and eastern fells. Some local lulls in the rain afternoon but always returning again.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket cloud to the low eastern slopes of the Pennines. Bases will be higher west of the high fells but unlikely to clear above 500-600m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility many hills, locally better westwards, but rather hazy in the west North Pennines.
How Cold? (at 700m)
3 or 4C in the morning, gradually cool to 2C or locally cooler in the North Pennines north of Teesdale. Wind chill feels as cold as -8 to -13C.
And in the valleys
Around 5C most of the day, cooling in the N Pennines afternoon to 3C around dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 30 to 40mph, stronger gusts in places near and west of higher fells, to 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often arduous, gusts over northern fells will challenge balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and sleet mostly north/east
Patchy rain gradually becomes more frequent over the north and eastern Pennines, falling as sleet or freezing rain on high fells. Rain patchier toward western Yorks Dales.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering higher slopes much of the day above 500-600m, oftentimes lower bases on eastern slopes. Some higher breaks toward the Howgills and Vale of Eden.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some bright moments early in the day western N Pennines. Poor visibility many hills, locally better westwards, but rather hazy.
How Cold? (at 700m)
2C; some local variation, cooler north of Cross Fell, warmer west Yorks Dales. Wind chill feels like -10 to -13C.
And in the valleys
2 or 3C from dawn, rising slightly, locally to 5C western Yorks Dales.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Saturday 24th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 30 to 45mph, very gusty around higher tops and downslope to west; may start to lessen with time - uncertain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, frequent buffeting gusts not just on highest terrain; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain, snow tops mostly north/east
Rain frequent or persistent east and northern areas, falling as sleet or snow over higher fells, mostly above 600-700m. Patchier smaller amounts western Dales.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive over tops
Covering much higher terrain all day, lowest cloud base over eastern side of Pennines, to 400-500m in places. Higher bases westwards, local breaks.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull. Poor visibility in rain, very poor if in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 700m)
0 or 1C. Directly in the wind feeling like -12 to -15C.
And in the valleys
5 or 6C, little variation night into day.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains into the weekend, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland on Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow, turning colder further south over the weekend, with freezing level dropping to the southern Pennines summits next week. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.