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.
Thursday'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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Thursday 1st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold north-northwesterly winds, widely gale force over the mountains, difficult conditions with severe chill factor on Scottish high tops. Showery snow and hail frequent in northern Scotland. Rare showers central Scotland and northern England. Early rain and hill snow followed by showers in Wales.
Headline for Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Gales on high tops, largely dry, many tops often clear.
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 35 to 45mph, strongest higher North Pennines, at times 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, frequent buffeting over most high terrain, more challenging in exposure higher up in northern areas. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Generally dry daytime
Overnight, a band of showery rain, or falling as snow above 600m, clearing south before first light. Largely dry day, rare if any brief snow showers. Greater risk of scattered snow showers into the evening and night.
Cloud on the hills?
Soon little if any
Patches grazing higher slopes, mostly early in day, lifting largely above tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sunshine, some high cloud. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 700m)
0 or -1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
And in the valleys
4 or 5C, little change from night into day, but then dropping to freezing onward into evening.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North-northwesterly 25 to 35mph, at times 40mph higher North Pennines, risk nearer 50mph for a few hours from dawn.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill over the fells. Strenuous walking in exposure on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patches clipping high tops occasionally, mainly in north, but mostly clear fells.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 700m)
-4C. Wind chill feeling like -15C on tops.
And in the valleys
Near or just below 0C from dawn, rising to max 2C, then rapidly dropping below freezing into evening-night.
Viewing Forecast For
Yorkshire Dales & North Pennines
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North to northwesterly 25 to 40mph, strongest higher North Pennines.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued significant wind chill over the hills. Frequent buffeting on exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Occasional patches mainly higher North Pennines. Largely clear Yorks Dales NP.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 700m)
-4 or -5C. Wind chill feeling like -17C in exposure on high tops.
And in the valleys
Terrain widely frozen, starting locally below -5C from dawn, staying sub-zero in some valleys, max 0 or 1C.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen onward into the weekend and early next week at least; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, tending to lessen into Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, but some fronts moving in from northwest likely bring snowfall to hills at times more widely.