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.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Peak District
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold with widespread gales in exposure; powerful gusts and severe wind chill. North and west Scotland often dry and free of cloud; an increasing risk of snow south with time, possibly east as well. English hills largely dry, hill cloud mostly isolated to high Pennines. Cloudier Wales with snow arriving from the south.
Headline for Peak District
Gales, powerful gusts, severe chill factor; dry, some hill cloud
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 35-45mph. Notable gustiness over high terrain and downslope towards the northwest as well.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous with severe wind chill. Stability will be constantly challenged; strongest gusts requiring crouching.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Variable banks on high tops
Cloud banks come and go over the high summits, some extended clear periods are probable too but always the risk of cloud returning, with
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny but weakened by high cloud, occasional hill cloud shrouding the sun as well. Very good visibility, some early haze.
Temperature (at 600m)
-3 or -2C to start the day, rising to -1C. Feeling like -13 to -15C in direct wind.
And in the valleys
Widely frozen from dawn, -1 or 0C, rising to +2C, locally warmer in the valleys to the northwest/Lancashire.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Thursday 19th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 30-40mph, gusty over high tops but an easing trend with time, low speeds possible, but detail uncertain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous walking with wind chill and balance challenges in gusts, but effects easing with time.
How Wet?
Chance of early snow
Some light snow early in the day, greatest chance in the south, this clearing for a dry afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
May be fairly extensive early
Early in the day, a risk of fairly extensive cloud over high terrain. A breaking and lifting trend is likely, with periods of clear moors, but a risk of cloud caps returning to high terrain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy early, trending towards sunnier conditions but always some high cloud around. Good visibility though some haze.
Temperature (at 600m)
-1 or 0C. Feeling like -12C in direct wind.
And in the valleys
0 or +1C from dawn, lifting a few degrees, chance up to 4C.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Friday 20th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
West-southwesterly 25-35mph from dawn, rising to 40-50mph and shifting southwesterly, powerful gusts likely.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions become challenging with significant wind chill; maintaining stability requires constant effort in exposure.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Early patchy rain, some sleet or snow on high terrain. With time, more organized band of rain drift in from the west, brief heavier bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Highly variable, high breaks
During rain, cloud fills in extensively to the middle or lower slopes, but also high breaks during cessation in rain, with a chance of clearing the summits for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy but with bright or sunny breaks coming and going. Variable visibility, good out of cloud and rain but also hazy.
Temperature (at 600m)
0 or +1C from dawn, rising to 5C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
And in the valleys
0 or +1C from dawn, rising to 7C.
Planning Outlook
Much terrain in England and Scotland remains frozen as the weekend approaches. However, freezing level will be less well defined on western slopes as stable downslope flow may warm and thaw frozen ground up to middle elevations, particularly in Wales and England. Friday into the weekend sees a switch to southwesterly winds, bringing milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing to Munro summits will occur but also further snowfall on higher terrain during the day-to-day variability of precipitation and freezing levels. Often cloudy with periods of rain further south, most often affecting western and southern hills where cloud will be lowest and at times drizzly in the south. Often windy with upland gales.