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.
Wednesday'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
Wednesday 17th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gales across the hills. Rain preceded by early snow on higher terrain in the Highlands, lifting briefly above freezing to high tops. Showery bursts follow into western Scotland, heavy and frequent with hail later. England & Wales sees rain much of the day, spreading eastward, heavy at times.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Upland gales. Rain heaviest and most persistent west.
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 40 to 50mph, risk 60mph N Pennines, local powerful gusts north of higher summits. Starting to lessen a little only after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the fells, walking difficult in places higher up, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes.
How Wet?
Rain most of day west, patchier north/east
Rain moving in from west soon from dawn, setting in persistently over western Yorks Dales, some heavy falls; patchier further east and northeast. Breaking up into showers late evening into night. Wet underfoot western areas, streams rising again to be in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Soon extensive
Lowering in morning to blanket most hills, from mid-to-lower slopes in western Dales up to Tebay. Higher bases north/east, but rarely above the tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly murky.
How Cold? (at 700m)
2C rising during day to 5C. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in the wind.
And in the valleys
3C at dawn, slight frost some valleys. Rising to 7 or 8C.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
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
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
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.
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. More heavy rain for England and Wales on Thursday, further flooding expected; rain spreads north into Scotland, falling as snow on Munros. Showery by Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives from the west 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.