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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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 snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread hail and snow showers, at times heavy with a risk of isolated lightning. Fewer showers in the N Pennines and southeast Scotland for a few morning hours, but returning afternoon. Gales widespread as well with sudden strong gusts, easing only slightly in Scotland. Cold, staying below freezing above 500-600m.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Snow and hail showers, mostly Yorks Dales; gales
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 40 to 45mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers, to 50mph+. Speeds will trend to the lower end of the range in the N Pennines, around 35mph near dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous most of the day with significant wind chill, often challenging in exposure during sudden strong gusts, requiring bracing to maintain stability. Conditions slightly improving late in the day.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers, most frequent Yorks Dales
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, mostly western areas in the morning, may be well-scattered over the N Pennines for a time, but again more widespread as the afternoon goes; chance of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasionally capping tops
Cloud base changing, mostly confined to highest summits above 700-800m and often lifting above. Brief patches to 600m in showers. N Pennines substantially clear for several morning hours.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, most common toward east in morning. Visibility at times very good, but appalling in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 700m)
-1 or -2C, slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
And in the valleys
1C from dawn, local frosts likely, rising to 4 or 5C afternoon, but dropping back several degrees during showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North-northwesterly 20-30mph, shifting westerly and easing, 15mph, restrengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded with stability affected on high exposed fells early. Easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Little or no precipitation during daylight
Late in the day, some light spotty rain may affect the fells, but likely dry. Patchy rain arrives as night falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Clear most of the day
The fells clear of cloud most of the day. As evening approaches, a deck of cloud will lower to touch the high tops, lowering into night.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine in the morning, high cloud starting to build from midday onward. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 700m)
-2 or -3C, lifting to +1C, several degrees higher overnight. Feeling like -10 to -12C in early wind.
And in the valleys
A widespread frost at and before dawn, locally -3C N Pennines. Lifting to 4 or 5C.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 20-30mph, up to 35mph early in the day; some notable gusts over exposed tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded on exposed fells, some buffeting gusts affecting stability. Feeling increasingly chilly.
How Wet?
Morning rain, largely dry afternoon
Often raining on the western slopes from dawn, more patchy to the east. Gradually breaking from the north - rain most persistent Ingleton to Tebay. Largely dry afternoon, just odd spots west slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, breaking from the north
Extensive fog at dawn, to the lower slopes of western Yorks Dales, nearer 500-600m N Pennines. Breaking from the north with time, clearing most summits though afternoon, though Three Peaks may be slower to clear.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%, rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun gradually breaking out from the north, some fair weather cloud builds. Visibility improving to very good as cloud and rain clear.
How Cold? (at 700m)
5 to 6C at dawn, mildest south. Soon cooling from the north, 2C widely by dusk. Later, feeling like -5 to -8C in wind.
And in the valleys
5C from dawn, rising up to 7C by early afternoon, then cooling rapidly, 3C by nightfall.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.