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Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines Forecast

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.

Today's Forecast

Gale force, walking difficult
Heavy rain
Poor visibility
Cold

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM Last Updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM Last Updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM

Viewing Forecast For

Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Saturday 9th December 2023
Last updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Patchy rain and snow on higher Scottish tops push north over the Highlands. Heavy rain sets in across south & central Scotland. Heavy rain moves across England and Wales in the morning, followed by showers. Varied winds, fairly light much of Scotland, but increasing upland gales for England, severe for Wales.

Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines

Heavy rain. Upland gales developing, risk severe later.

How windy? (On the summits)

Southerly 15 to 30mph, abruptly and rapidly increasing, turning westerly later, 40 to 60mph.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small at first, but marked chill. Becoming difficult as winds veer westerly, with significant wind chill and buffeting.

How Wet?

Heavy rain, then showers.

Several hours of heavy rain during the morning, may persist longer North Pennines. Tending to break up into heavy showers, risk isolated thunder.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive

Cloud will shroud the hills extensively for much of daylight hours, despite a rise in bases to upper slopes post front later in the day. To lowest slopes in heavy rain.

Chance of cloud free summits?

20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Mostly overcast. Visibility widely poor in rain.

How Cold? (at 700m)

Around 4C, but feeling closer to -10C in direct exposure to the strongest winds.

And in the valleys

5C at dawn, lifting to 7 or 8C.

Viewing Forecast For

Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Sunday 10th December 2023
Last updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

South to southwesterly, 15 to 30mph, speeds likely to vary, risk 40-50mph up to dawn, and increasing again after dark.

Effect of the wind on you?

Varied, at times very blustery with considerable wind chill on higher terrain, but for a few hours a relative lull.

How Wet?

Heavy rain, possible snow high tops

Rain becoming persistent in the morning, continuous heavy falls for several hours into middle of day, wettest in west, later showery. May turn to sleet or snow highest tops, mainly North Pennines.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive, lowest west

Shrouding most higher areas throughout the day, most persistent around western Yorks Dales, from mid to low elevations upward in rain. Local higher breaks above 600m toward northeast.

Chance of cloud free summits?

20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Overcast and dull, possibly brighter just at first east of Pennines. Visibility soon generally poor due to rain.

How Cold? (at 700m)

2C. Wind chill feeling like -5C, or -10C as wind increases.

And in the valleys

2 to 4C, little change, perhaps lifting slightly into evening.

Viewing Forecast For

Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Monday 11th December 2023
Last updated Fri 8th Dec 23 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Risk of westerly gales 40-50mph from before dawn, easing northwest or variable 20-30mph, perhaps lower with time.

Effect of the wind on you?

Beware possibly challenging conditions early in day, may remain blustery into the daytime, but tending to improve.

How Wet?

Patchy showers

Overnight rain likely to clear to leave a largely dry day. Local brief showers possible, mainly western Dales.

Cloud on the hills?

Often covering western tops

Cloud likely to shroud many higher areas in the morning, lowest bases in the west, tending to rise with some breaks, best toward eastern side of Pennines.

Chance of cloud free summits?

40%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Fairly cloudy, occasional sun mainly east. Visibility good out of cloud.

How Cold? (at 700m)

4C. Wind chill risk feeling like -5 to -10C at first, sub-zero all day if exposed to wind.

And in the valleys

4C at dawn, small rise to 6 or 7C.

Planning Outlook

Areas of low pressure dominate into the weekend and early next week bringing unsettled conditions as a series of fronts circulate over Britain. Periods of heavy rain, with snow over higher mountains in Scotland as tops stay near or just below freezing point. Some freeze-thaw higher up, but mid-heights generally above freezing - very wet underfoot due to rain and snowmelt, beware flooding of streams and rivers. Most tops in England and Wales above freezing with terrain not frozen apart from local snow pockets. Generally windy, gales or severe gales at times over the tops - strongest speeds most sustained for England and Wales. Least windy in northern Scotland.