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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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 18th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: South to south-west gales bringing hill fog and showers, before band of heavy, perhaps squally, rain moves up from the southwest in afternoon, snow tops. England and Wales: Heavy rain spreading north with hill fog becoming extensive with strong to gale force southerly winds.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Southerly gales with heavy rain moving up from the south.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 30 to 50mph, but direction and speed likely to vary, possibly lower speeds for periods during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect arduous walking conditions and considerable wind chill on higher fells, but may lessen for periods.
How Wet?
Heavy rain likely setting in
An odd shower, but a few hours may be dry, for longest northern areas. Then persistent heavy rain likely moving in from southwest during day. Breaking up into showery rain and hail evening into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, becoming extensive
Patchy cloud banks, most persistent Yorks Dales NP, some breaks northward, but as rain sets in, widely lowering over hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, possibly good visibility mainly in north for a time; high cloud thickens and lowers to be increasingly murky in rain.
How Cold? (at 700m)
3 or 4C, then lowering to 1C into night. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C on tops.
And in the valleys
Little variation night into day, 7 or 8C; then dropping cooler later evening onward.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, tending to lessen a little during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over higher fells, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers mostly west, hail
Scattered showers, most common western Yorks Dales in morning, with hail, possibly snow on highest tops in N Pennines. Tending to fade during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to many tops
Patchy cloud grazing higher tops, most often western Yorks Dales in morning, lifting above most tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun most frequent east/northeast, patchy sun western Dales. Visibility often very good, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 700m)
2 or 3C. Feeling like -12C directly in the wind.
And in the valleys
4C from dawn, rising to 7C afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Saturday 20th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to south-easterly 20 to 30mph, perhaps exceeding 35mph for a time westernmost hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
A very blustery and gusty airflow, arduous towards west coast especially, with considerable buffeting and wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mainly west.
Patchy rain, mainly across the western dales as a front edges in from the west. Little if any elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive in the west
Likely to cover the hills fairly extensively in the west. Occasional breaks. More broken cloud bases at times in the east where mainly just capping tops at times.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% west, 70% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun possible should cloud layers thin, mostly likely in the east. Visibility good or very good, but poor in any rain.
How Cold? (at 700m)
3 or 4C
And in the valleys
5 to 7C
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. Showery on Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives onto western hills into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.