Whernside Weather Forecast – 737m, Yorkshire Dales

Tuesday 20 October 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather23Poor

Summit wind · 08:00-17:0015-30 mph southeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph Feels like-2 to 2°C PrecipitationAround 5-10 mm Cloud-free summit estimate15% Cloud base through day500-800 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:46 · Sunset 18:01 · 10.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with the summit in cloud for most of the day and rain for much of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-easterly wind of 15–30 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 30–40 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m in the late afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.

Rain and ground

Rain for much of the day, becoming heavier through the afternoon. Expect 5–10 mm in total.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 6pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 0 h
Midday: 0 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

27

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor More rain is expected. Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

19

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain: about 5 mm of rain. 52Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Tuesday 20 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Gusts reach about 25 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the southeast. The wind swings from southeasterly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect about 5 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Up around 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 6°C at 600 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain5.2 mm Open ground · 600 m13 mph · gusts 26 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc: 72%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 01:34 next morning BST

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 20 Oct, 17:00 BST to 21 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 11 mph / 22 mph
Typical / low: 8.1°C / 7.4°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: High

600 m52 · mixed

Wind / gust: 13 mph / 26 mph
Typical / low: 6.8°C / 6.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 93% of modelled night
Condensation: High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 4°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 30–40 mph. Poor0 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust30-40 mphRain8.4 mm

Main factorsgusts of 30–40 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-20. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 4.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). NOAA has a G1 storm watch out for this date, though the timing of the strongest activity can shift.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 21 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:50 BST.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 21 Oct, 01:30 BST to 05:50 BST.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
20 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
20 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
20 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
20 Oct, 23:00 BST to 21 Oct, 00:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
21 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:50 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 72% illuminated.

Moonset around 21 Oct, 01:30 BST.

Full darkness: 20 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21 Oct, 05:50 BST.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Tuesday 20 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Wednesday 21 October 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather70Good

Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0020-30 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationAround 5-10 mm Cloud-free summit estimate70% Cloud base through day700-1,800 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:48 · Sunset 17:59 · 10.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Whernside, though expect rain arriving around midday.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 20–30 mph at the windiest. The wind turns north-westerly in the early afternoon. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 30–40 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit early in the morning. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 300–600 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. Visibility may drop briefly in showers.

Rain and ground

A band of rain moves in around midday. Expect 5–10 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 6pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Some of the detail could still change, so have a last look at the forecast in the morning before you set off.

The Orionids are around their peak and clear, dark spells are forecast: worth a look after midnight. Displays vary, so no promises. Check the After dark forecast below for viewing times and limitations.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 1 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 1 h
Midday: 0 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.

81

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed More rain is expected. Summit winds around 0-10 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 10-20 mph later. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.

60

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind: gusts of about 30 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Wednesday 21 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the northwest. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. A cold night, down to about 3°C around 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain1.9 mm Open ground · 600 m18 mph · gusts 32 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc: 80%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 02:54 next morning BST

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 21 Oct, 17:00 BST to 22 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 15 mph / 27 mph
Typical / low: 4.0°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 18 mph / 32 mph
Typical / low: 3.3°C / 2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 20–30 mph. Poor13 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 20–30 mph will be noticeable on exposed ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust20-30 mphRain10.4 mm

Main factorsgusts of 20–30 mphwet rock likely

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly clear. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-21. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.3 (on a 0 to 9 scale).

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Very good sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST.

Mostly clear.

Moon-free dark sky: 22 Oct, 02:50 BST to 05:50 BST.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
21 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
21 Oct, 23:00 BST to 22 Oct, 00:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
22 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
22 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
22 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST	Mixed sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
22 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST	Good sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.
22 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST	Very good sky conditions Mostly clear.
22 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:50 BST	Very good sky conditions Mostly clear.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 80% illuminated.

Moonset around 22 Oct, 02:50 BST.

Full darkness: 21 Oct, 19:55 BST to 22 Oct, 05:50 BST.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Wednesday 21 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Thursday 22 October 2026Confidence: High

Overall hill weather86Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:50 · Sunset 17:56 · 10.1 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Whernside: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay clear of cloud all day. The air should be clear too, so expect far-reaching views from the tops.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain later on. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

Sunset is around 5:55pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still two days off, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 9.8 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 2 h
Midday: 4 h
Later: 1.8 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground.

86

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

86

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 50 mph and about 7 mm of rain. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Thursday 22 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 50 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. The wind swings from southerly to easterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Dry to pitch, then about 7 mm of rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. A cold night, down to about 3°C around 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain7.1 mm Open ground · 600 m22 mph · gusts 48 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc: 88%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 04:15 next morning BST

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 22 Oct, 17:00 BST to 23 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m19 · very poor

Wind / gust: 18 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low: 5.7°C / 4.3°C · several hours
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m9 · very poor

Wind / gust: 22 mph / 48 mph
Typical / low: 4.2°C / 2.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaMixed conditions for exposed scrambling. Mixed52 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Mixed conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDry overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust15-25 mphRainPossible · 72%

Main concerndamp or incompletely dried rock possible

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-22. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 2.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 5.0 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 23 Oct, 04:10 BST to 05:55 BST.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
22 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
22 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
22 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
22 Oct, 23:00 BST to 23 Oct, 00:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 88% illuminated.

Moonset around 23 Oct, 04:10 BST.

Full darkness: 22 Oct, 19:55 BST to 23 Oct, 05:55 BST.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Thursday 22 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Friday 23 October 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather6Poor

Summit wind · 08:00-17:0025-45 mph northeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0050-60 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationAround 10-20 mm Cloud-free summit estimate40% Cloud base through day300-1,800 m Freezing level600-900 m DaylightSunrise 07:52 · Sunset 17:54 · 10.0 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with very strong, gusty winds and burns likely to be in spate.

Things to watch

Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through the day and overnight, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a north-easterly wind of 25–45 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 50–60 mph at the windiest. The wind turns northerly in the early afternoon. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 80–90 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops start clear, but the cloud comes down onto them in the early afternoon. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m mid-afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.

Rain and ground

Sleet is possible on the tops, and it could turn to snow if it is a little colder. Rain for much of the day. Expect 10–20 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. Totals are uncertain and could be higher.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. The freezing level falls through the day, to around 800–1100 m by mid-afternoon. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 5:55pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. It's still three days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 0 h
Midday: 0 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the morning, but models differ considerably on the amount.

16

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Severe hill conditions More rain is expected. Summit winds around 35-45 mph in the early afternoon, easing to 25-35 mph later. Gusts around 50-60 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.

-5

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: gusts of about 40 mph and about 5 mm of rain. 35Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Friday 23 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Look for shelter from the northwest. Expect about 5 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Up around 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain5.0 mm Open ground · 600 m26 mph · gusts 38 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc: 94%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 05:38 next morning BST

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 23 Oct, 17:00 BST to 24 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m46 · mixed

Wind / gust: 22 mph / 32 mph
Typical / low: 2.8°C / 2.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m35 · poor

Wind / gust: 26 mph / 38 mph
Typical / low: 1.7°C / 0.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 33% of modelled night
Condensation: High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Snow is likely on the rock and ledges, so it becomes a winter route. Gusts of 50–60 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust50-60 mphRain19.0 mm

Main factorsgusts of 50–60 mphwet rock likelySnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-23. All times are UK local time.

Stargazing

Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 24 Oct, 05:30 BST to 05:55 BST.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
23 Oct, 23:00 BST to 24 Oct, 00:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST	Mixed sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST	Mixed sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST	Good sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 94% illuminated.

Moonset around 24 Oct, 05:30 BST.

Full darkness: 23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 24 Oct, 05:55 BST.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Friday 23 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Saturday 24 October 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather58Mixed

Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-30 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:54 · Sunset 17:52 · 10.0 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Whernside, with a blustery wind.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of around 20–30 mph first thing, easing to 10–20 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 30–40 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 55–65 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay clear of cloud all day.

Rain and ground

Drizzle sets in during the late afternoon. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. The ground is very wet after recent rain, so expect boggy paths.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

Sunset is around 5:50pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still four days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates Less than 1 hour of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: Less than 1 hour
Midday: 0 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.

48

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Winds ease compared with the morning. Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.

67

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 50 mph and around 14 mm of rain. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Saturday 24 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 50 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. The wind swings from southerly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect a wet night, around 14 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. At every height we checked (300-600 m) you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain14.5 mm Open ground · 600 m24 mph · gusts 52 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc: 98%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 06:05 next morning GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 24 Oct, 17:00 BST to 25 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m19 · very poor

Wind / gust: 20 mph / 43 mph
Typical / low: 6.6°C / 4.3°C · several hours
In cloud: 25% of modelled night
Condensation: High

600 m9 · very poor

Wind / gust: 24 mph / 52 mph
Typical / low: 4.5°C / 3.1°C · several hours
In cloud: 69% of modelled night
Condensation: High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Snow is likely on the rock and ledges, so it becomes a winter route. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust30-40 mphRain0.3 mm

Main factorsgusts of 30–40 mphwet rock likelySnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-24. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 24 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
24 Oct, 19:50 BST to 20:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
24 Oct, 23:00 BST to 25 Oct, 00:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 01:00 BST to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 04:55 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 98% illuminated.

Moonset around 25 Oct, 05:55 GMT.

Full darkness: 24 Oct, 19:50 BST to 25 Oct, 04:55 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

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Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Saturday 24 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Sunday 25 October 2026Confidence: Unavailable

Overall hill weather10Poor

Summit wind · 08:00-17:0035-50 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0055-65 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationAround 10-20 mm Cloud-free summit estimate50% Cloud base through day400-2,500 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 06:56 · Sunset 16:50 · 9.9 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with very strong, gusty winds and burns likely to be in spate.

Things to watch

There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from around midday into the evening. If you hear thunder, head down off the tops and away from ridges. Storms can bring sudden strong gusts and heavy rain. Storm timing could easily shift by a few hours. Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through the day and overnight, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 35–50 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 55–65 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 15–25 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 80–90 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Any early cloud on the tops should clear soon after dawn. The cloud base could be as low as 200–500 m early in the morning.

Rain and ground

Rain for much of the day, turning lighter later. Expect 10–20 mm in total. Some forecast models keep it drier in the morning. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 4:50pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still five days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 9.7 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 2.9 h
Midday: 4 h
Later: Less than 1 hour

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 35-45 mph. Gusts around 50-60 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later. Rain is forecast during this period. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.

4

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 40-50 mph. Gusts around 55-65 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.

15

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 60 mph. 0Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Sunday 25 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 60 mph around 600 m and nearer 50 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. The wind swings from westerly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. A thunderstorm is possible. The timing of any storms is uncertain, so don't pitch on a ridge or summit, and have a lower fallback. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 300 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain2.4 mm Open ground · 600 m27 mph · gusts 62 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc: 100%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: 07:37 next morning GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 25 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m0 · very poor

Wind / gust: 23 mph / 52 mph
Typical / low: 6.4°C / 3.7°C · several hours
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

600 m0 · very poor

Wind / gust: 27 mph / 62 mph
Typical / low: 4.5°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 55–65 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from around midday into the evening. If you hear thunder, get off exposed rock and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust55-65 mphRain12.7 mm

Main factorsmoderate thunderstorm risk on exposed groundgusts of 55–65 mphwet rock likely

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-25. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 25 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
25 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
26 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 100% illuminated.

Moonset around 26 Oct, 07:25 GMT.

Full darkness: 25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 26 Oct, 05:00 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Sunday 25 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Monday 26 October 2026Confidence: Unavailable

Overall hill weather87Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate80% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 06:58 · Sunset 16:47 · 9.8 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Whernside: light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 10–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay clear of cloud all day.

Rain and ground

Drizzle for much of the day. The ground is very wet after recent rain, so expect boggy paths.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 4:45pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still six days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 2.4 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early: 0.9 h
Midday: 1.1 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

93

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

81

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 50 mph and around 8 mm of rain. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Monday 26 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 50 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. Expect a wet night, around 8 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Overnight lows of about 6°C at 300 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain8.1 mm Open ground · 600 m23 mph · gusts 48 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc: 99%
Moonrise: Outside this window
Moonset: Outside this window

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 26 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m19 · very poor

Wind / gust: 19 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low: 6.3°C / 6.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: High

600 m9 · very poor

Wind / gust: 23 mph / 48 mph
Typical / low: 6.3°C / 6.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 20% of modelled night
Condensation: High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 4°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaMixed conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Mixed55 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Mixed conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust15-25 mphRain1.2 mm

Main concernwet rock likely

Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Slate or mudstone
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin: Gritstone (Upper Howgate Edge Grit)
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Whernside Ribblehead

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Yorkshire Three Peaks

limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records

Mapped variation

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone, siltstone and sandstone Stainmore Formation Around 619 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstone Yoredale Group 343–562 m samples Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Danny Bridge Limestone Formation Around 290 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Three Yard Limestone Member Around 471 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Gritstone Upper Howgate Edge Grit Around 721 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record

Route sample Limestone Middle Limestone Around 451 m Seen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-26. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 27 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
26 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 99% illuminated.

Full darkness: 26 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 27 Oct, 05:00 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 862 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Whernside on Monday 26 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Whernside weather forecast.

Choose your hill day.

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Rock groups along the sampled routes

Whernside Ribblehead

Yorkshire Three Peaks

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Rock groups along the sampled routes

Whernside Ribblehead

Yorkshire Three Peaks

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Rock groups along the sampled routes

Whernside Ribblehead

Yorkshire Three Peaks

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Things to watch

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Rock groups along the sampled routes

Whernside Ribblehead

Yorkshire Three Peaks

6 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind