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.
Today'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.
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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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.
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
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and hill snow in eastern Scotland in the morning tends to ease off; largely dry toward west. E-SE'ly gales in north, lower wind speeds S & W Highlands, but increasing again later. In England & Wales, upland gales all day, rain and initially snow on tops extending north, becoming milder from the south.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Gales developing. Dry morning, cloud breaks; rain later.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 20-30mph early morning, but tending to strengthen quickly, reaching 40mph middle of day into afternoon, becoming 50mph high tops, powerful gusts developing, including downslope to west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Moderate conditions at first, but walking increasing arduous over exposed terrain, into afternoon gusts knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill developing.
How Wet?
Dry morning, rain develops afternoon onward
A little rain up to dawn, snow flurries high tops, but soon largely dry for several hours through morning into middle of day. Pulses of rain spreading from south into afternoon, becoming persistent and heavier later, by then rain up to the tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, breaks west
Areas of low cloud from dawn, mostly eastern areas where may linger over tops, but further northwest lifting and breaking toward or above many tops for several hours. Lowering cloud from south later afternoon onward.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% east, to 70% west until later afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy in east, some sun breaking through in western areas, best near Vale of Eden, visibility here good; high cloud then building from south to be overcast and hazier later.
How Cold? (at 700m)
1C, then rising to 3 or 4C after dark. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C where exposed on higher areas.
And in the valleys
4 to 6C, small variation night into day, but slightly milder onward into the evening.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 40 to 50mph, stronger gusts in places around high tops and downslope to west of the Pennines.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult in exposure and gusts knocking you off balance not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain north/east
Rain fairly persistent over the north and eastern Pennines. Patchier toward western Yorks Dales.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering higher slopes much of the day above 500-600m, some higher breaks toward the Howgills and Vale of Eden.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility many hills, locally better westwards, but rather hazy.
How Cold? (at 700m)
2C. Wind chill feels as cold as -15C.
And in the valleys
Small change around 5C night into day, may drop colder northeastern areas.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 35 to 45mph, stronger gusts in places near and west of higher fells.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous conditions, challenging over northern fells where gusts will knock you off balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and sleet mostly north/east
Rain fairly persistent over the north and eastern Pennines, falling as snow on high North Pennines, sleet or freezing rain further south. Rain patchier toward western Yorks Dales.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering higher slopes much of the day above 500-600m, oftentimes lower bases on eastern slopes. Some higher breaks toward the Howgills and Vale of Eden.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility many hills, locally better westwards, but rather hazy.
How Cold? (at 700m)
1 or 2C. Slightly cooling later, to 0C north of Cross Fell/Teesdale. Wind chill feels as cold as -15C.
And in the valleys
2 or 3C from dawn, may locally rise to 4C but little change broadly.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains later this week, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland Thursday-Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow; colder further south over the weekend. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.