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.
Friday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly blustery north England and Scotland, gales over Scottish Highlands; lighter wind Pennines and Wales. Early patchy rain over east Scotland and the Pennines soon clears, slowest south Pennines; many hills then cloud-free. Scattered showers onto west coasts, most frequent and heavy west-central Scotland.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Early rain, then often cloud-free fells; becoming blustery later
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 20-30mph pre-dawn, soon easing to 15mph or less for several hours. Trending southwesterly with time, rising again, 30-35mph by dusk, strongest north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Effects soon small well into the morning, then increasing again afternoon; walking becoming strenuous in exposure by dusk with wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, dry afternoon
A band of rain sweeps east through morning, soon clearing the North Pennines, then the Yorkshire Dales. Likely no rain afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, soon improving from the north
High fells shrouded at dawn with banks down to middle slopes. Cloud soon breaks off N Pennines as rain clears, then further south, though variable ragged patches will linger for a time with some caps over the high fells of Yorks Dales NP.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast morning with poor visibility breaks into afternoon sunshine (though weakened by high cloud) with very good visibility; some haze will form in west areas later.
How Cold? (at 700m)
5C early, gradually lowering to 3 or 4C, warmest in the eastern Yorkshire Dales.
And in the valleys
7C from dawn, little change before dropping afternoon to 5C N Pennines, later further south.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly, strengthening during daytime from 35-40mph to 50-60mph, risk stronger gusts toward evening, most north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly challenging walking conditions, mobility becoming difficult on higher exposed tops; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patches in the wind, more north later
Patchy spots of rain or drizzle, may be persistently damp Ingleton to Howgills area, though total rainfall small. Later in day, increasing risk more frequent/steady rain, most likely N Pennines.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western areas
Varied banks of cloud, but may linger over tops in western Dales. May also cap higher North Pennines, but cloud base typically higher north and eastwards, above tops for periods. Lowering later in rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% west, to 60% north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun, though high cloud thickening, soonest north. Hazy western dales, visibility reduced in rain, but more often good north/eastward.
How Cold? (at 700m)
3C, later rising steadily to reach 6C, further rising overnight. Wind chill feeling around -10C.
And in the valleys
5C or locally cooler at dawn, rising to 8C.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the summits)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 45-55mph, may strengthen further with downslope gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including downslope. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain west fells
Drizzly rain drifting onto high western fells from Ingleborough to Tebay, may set in for periods. Also raining in the northernmost N Pennines. Drier east.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, locally better east fells
Cloud shrouded the high tops likely all day. Lowest bases in western Yorks Dales, locally to 500m during rain. Cross Fell group may see low bases as well. Higher eastern fells of Yorks Dales with some breaks to tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% west, 40% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely, dull at times in the west. Very good visibility during clear periods east.
How Cold? (at 700m)
7 or 8C. Feeling like -5C in direct wind.
And in the valleys
8 or 9C with little change through the day.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled through the weekend and next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy for periods, sometimes showery with hail in the west. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Best chance for dry and bright periods central and south Pennines, though these fleeting. Mild for the time of year, temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs.