Peak District
The southernmost Pennines, covering the entire Peak District National Park, also extending north to hills accessed from Hebden Bridge, and including the hills immediately north of Manchester.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Peak District
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 Peak District
Strong southerly winds with heavy rain moving in from the south.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 25 to 40mph, but direction and speed likely to vary. Chance of increasing rapidly later to 50mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions, often strenuous walking and marked wind chill in exposure.
How Wet?
Heavy rain soon setting in
Dry possibly for a few hours in morning. Heavy rain moving in from south during day, likely soon persistent. Breaking up into showery rain evening into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Banks of cloud at varying heights, but if rain sets in, widely lowering to shroud hills from mid-heights upwards.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% early in day, dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull, murky in rain.
Temperature (at 600m)
4 or 5C, then lowering to 2C into night. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -7C on tops.
And in the valleys
Little variation night and day, 8 or 9C; then dropping cooler later evening onward.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 35 to 45mph, tending to lessen a little during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions over higher terrain, some buffeting in exposure. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Brief showers
Local passing showers, mainly areas toward northwest Peak District and into Lancashire.
Cloud on the hills?
Often above hills
Patches occasionally touching higher tops mainly toward west in morning, but often lifting above hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most frequent east. Visibility mostly very good.
Temperature (at 600m)
3 or 4C. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
And in the valleys
4C from dawn, rising to 8C afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
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
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery and at times gusty airflow will bring marked wind chill and periods of buffeting.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Generally dry, bar isolated spots of light rain or drizzle from the low cloud.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Likely to cover the tops often in the cloud through the day. Occasional breaks.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40%
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.
Temperature (at 600m)
4 or 5C
And in the valleys
6 to 8C
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.