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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Wednesday 6th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
After a hard frost, mostly dry and bright, but feeling increasingly bitterly cold as southeasterly winds strengthen and cloud thicken through the day ahead of a front, which will bring and increasing risk of upland snowfall, in across western mountains toward evening, and then spreading to all parts overnight.
Headline for Peak District
Bitter chill in strengthening southeast winds. Dry, but snow soon after dusk.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly, strengthening through day from 20-25mph after dawn to 35 to perhaps 40mph before dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly arduous or difficult, and feeling bitterly cold as wind chill becomes significant.
How Wet?
Dry much of day, but snow after dusk.
Very likely dry through daylight, but then fronts edging in from southwest after dusk will bring increasing threat of persistent snow. Time of onset uncertain, most likely not until afternoon - possibly after dusk. Rain only lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Hills cloud free; but cloud lowering onto the hills late on.
Most hills cloud free at first, possibly for much the day. But the trend will be for cloud to increasingly cap higher slopes from late afternoon, lowering toward 500m or below 300m in snow.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90% lowering to 20% late in the day.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine giving way from south as cloud thickens. Visibility very good although increasingly hazy and appalling in overnight snow.
Temperature (at 600m)
0C. Will feel as cold as minus 13C directly in the wind.
And in the valleys
Much terrain frozen after a frost; will reach around 2C in the afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Thursday 7th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Very turbulent conditions developing. Southeasterly winds; lifting through day to 40 to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly difficult conditions, as turbulent and very powerful winds accelerate over the hills.
How Wet?
Frequent rain
Frequent spells of rain, for a time early in the day may fall as sleet or refrozen rain upper slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Widespread hill fog.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Poor or very poor visibilities.
Temperature (at 600m)
1C lifting to 3C. Feeling closer to -10C in exposure to the wind.
And in the valleys
Ground still remaining hard, and from mid slopes upwards, at least partially frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
Peak District
Friday 8th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southeasterly 25 to 35mph in the morning, perhaps locally 40mph tops at first, but easing out in the afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for fairly arduous conditions in the morning with significant wind chill, but conditions easing in the afternoon.
How Wet?
Patchy rain at times
As an area of low pressure tracks across through the day, occasional rain or drizzle will move it at times.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasional hill fog.
Occasional banks of cloud will shroud the hills, especially in the morning and in and around rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a little sun may break through at times. Visibility very good at times, away from any rain.
Temperature (at 600m)
Around 4C, but feeling closer to -8C in direct exposure to the strongest winds early in the day.
And in the valleys
Lifting to 7 to 9C
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions will prevail over the next week to 10 days, with periods of upland gales or severe gales with precipitation frequent, mostly rain, although intermittently snow Scottish Highlands, more rarely elsewhere. Driest conditions (relative to the average) will likely be in the northwest Highlands, given the often backed flow, as the low pressure areas track in.