The southernmost Pennines, covering the entire Peak District National Park, also extending north to hills accessed from Hebden Bridge, and including the hills immediately north of Manchester.
Peak District
Friday 20th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
Extensive gale-force southwesterlies. A rise of freezing level toward higher tops in Scotland, where early hill snow soon turns mostly to rain. Lifting above freezing to highest tops in England & Wales by dawn, a few hours of heavy rain. Clusters of heavy showers follow into all western areas with hail, a chance of thunder.
Upland gales. Wet much of day, heavy rain most persistent west.
Southwesterly strengthening in morning 30-35mph up to 45-50mph for a few hours through middle of day, marginally lower in afternoon, but often near 40mph on tops; a westerly shift during afternoon.
Conditions soon become challenging with significant wind chill; maintaining stability requires constant effort in exposure.
Rain soon develops, heavy at times, showery
Patchy rain from dawn becomes more persistent from west during morning, heavy for a time over an hour or so into middle of day. Breaking into showers during afternoon, but rain becomes locally frequent or persistent again in west, heavy bursts with risk of hail.
Highly variable, high breaks
During rain, cloud fills in extensively to the middle or lower slopes, but also high breaks during cessation in rain, with a chance of clearing the summits for periods.
50%
Often cloudy but with bright or sunny breaks coming and going. Variable visibility, good out of cloud and rain but also hazy.
1 or 2C just at dawn, soon rising to 5 or 6C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
4C from dawn, rising to 8 or 9C afternoon, remaining mild into night.
Peak District
Saturday 21st February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, tending to strengthen further up to dusk, 40-50mph into evening.
Uncomfortable walking, strenuous in exposure on higher moors, becoming more challenging widely later.
Rain and drizzle
Rain on and off, persistently drizzly at least over western hills, more constant rain for periods into afternoon.
Extensive
Blanketing higher terrain most or all day, lowest in west, often 300-400m, at times lower in rain. Further eastward, bases toward 500m, occasionally higher.
20%
Overcast and dull, locally brighter skies for a time eastern areas. Hazy, visibility widely poor in rain.
6C. Where exposed to stronger winds on tops, feeling like -5C.
Mild from dawn, little change during day, 9 or 10C, locally warmer eastern valleys.
Peak District
Sunday 22nd February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
Southwesterly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts in showers.
Strenuous walking over the hills, challenging on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts. Considerable wind chill.
Occasional showers
Overnight heavy rain likely clears southeast around or before dawn. Then scattered showers spreading from the west, locally more frequent at times western hills toward the north.
Sometimes covering higher moors
Likely to come and go on higher slopes around rain, most frequent western areas, occasionally forming below 500m. More often above hills eastward.
60%
Sun breaking through at times mainly eastern areas. Visibility very good, but reduced in showers.
5 or 6C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C.
8C from dawn, up to 10 or 11C afternoon, but lowering slightly in showers.
Southwesterly winds brings milder conditions into this weekend - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales with substantial thawing, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing to Munro summits will occur but also further snowfall and refreezing on higher terrain during the day-to-day variability of precipitation and freezing levels onward into early next week. Likely colder later next week, back below freezing on higher terrain for a run of days. Often windy with periods of upland gales. Some spells of heavy rain over all western hills and low cloud frequently covering the hills.