Dartmoor
A poor day on the tops in Dartmoor, with burns in severe spate and rain arriving around midday.
Sunshine and sky
Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
High-ground wind (500 m)
At around 500 m, expect a south-easterly wind of 15–25 mph, gusting 25–35 mph, picking up through the day. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Walking impact
Gusts of 25–35 mph will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Spate risk
Severe spate risk based on forecast rainfall. Burns and unbridged crossings may become difficult or impassable. Timing and severity can vary between catchments. Check the peak forecast for the separate rain/runoff periods. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
Rain and showers
A band of rain moves in around midday and becomes heavier through the afternoon. Expect 5–10 mm in total. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount. Drizzle is possible on some hills. Visibility may drop briefly in showers in parts of the area.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 90% early, about 80% around midday and about 15% later.
Cloud and visibility
The tops start clear, but the cloud is likely to come down through the day. Some forecast models are much cloudier overhead. That may limit sunshine without putting the summits in cloud.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 500 m it will be 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Freezing level
The freezing level is close to summit height.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:31, Sunset 16:28, about 8.9 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area: gusts of about 40 mph and heavy rain, around 30 mm. 14Poor · 300 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Not a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area. Gusts reach about 40 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. A thunderstorm is possible in parts of the area. The timing of any storms is uncertain, so don't pitch on a ridge or summit, and have a lower fallback. About 30 mm of rain is forecast overnight. Around 300 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 4°C at 300 m.
Moon overnight
First-quarter moon
- Illuminated disc
- 46%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 22:34 GMT
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 16 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 50.685, -4.011. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 23 mph / 39 mph
- Coldest
- 4.1°C
- In cloud
- 33% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely. Gusts near 50 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. 0Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Regional climbing & scrambling outlook
A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (0/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet. Polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Gusts may reach about 50 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes granite, gneiss or gabbro. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling 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 Dartmoor on Monday 16 November 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
Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Updated 15 November 2026 at 16:26 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Dartmoor.