Dartmoor mountain weather forecast.

Wed 18 Nov on the hillsA mixed day in Dartmoor, with cloud coming and going on the summits. See wind, cloud base and timings

Mountain Weather brief

Dartmoor

Wednesday 18 November 2026 · The high moor and tors

Confidence: Medium Why?

Uncertainty over rain amounts and timing. Uncertainty over high-ground wind strength. Uncertainty over sky cloud cover and sunshine.

What matters most

A mixed day in Dartmoor, with cloud coming and going on the summits.

High-ground wind · 500 m20-30 mph westerly Gusts · 500 m25-35 mph Cloud base200-500 m Feels like · 500 m0 to 4°C
Regional median

Sunshine and sky

Less sunshine later. Sunshine is indicated less often later in the day.

Modelled sunshine5.7 h64% of daylight
Early1.3 h sunshine
Midday3.5 h sunshine
Later0 h sunshine

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.

Morning · 08:00–12:00MixedSummit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Cloud may restrict summit views early on. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
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Afternoon · 12:00–17:00PoorSummit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Cloud may restrict summit views around midday and later. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
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Conservative regional grades across representative summits, so one sheltered hill does not overstate the wider area.

01

High-ground wind (500 m)

At around 500 m, expect a westerly wind of 20–30 mph, gusting 25–35 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

02

Walking impact

Gusts of 25–35 mph will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

03

Thunderstorms

There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from the morning into the evening. If you hear thunder, head down off the tops and away from ridges. If a thunderstorm develops, sudden gusts and heavy rain can change conditions quickly.

04

Ground conditions

The ground is likely to be saturated after recent rain. Expect boggy paths and rapid runoff if more rain arrives.

05

Rain and showers

Drizzle at first, clearing by early afternoon. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours. The timing may shift by a few hours. Visibility may drop briefly in showers in parts of the area.

06

Cloud-free summits

Clear-summit estimate: about 25% early, about 50% around midday and about 25% later.

07

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of clear tops around midday. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m first thing. 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. Some forecast models are much cloudier overhead. That may limit sunshine without putting the summits in cloud. Any sunshine is more likely on lower ground than on the summits.

08

Temperature and wind chill

At around 500 m it will be 4 to 8°C, feeling like 0 to 4°C in the wind. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

09

Freezing level

The freezing level is above the summits.

10

Daylight

Sunrise 07:34, Sunset 16:26, about 8.8 hours daylight.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaAcross these hills, a reasonable night to camp, with a well-chosen pitch: gusts of about 20 mph. 70Good · 300 m View detailsHide details
Regional night beginning Wednesday 18 November 2026

Full regional overnight outlook

Across these hills, a reasonable night to camp, with a well-chosen pitch. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. Some light rain is forecast overnight. Overnight lows of about 6°C at 300 m. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain2.7 mmOpen ground · 300 m9 mph · gusts 22 mphMorning pack-upDampness possible

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
65%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
01:00 next morning GMT

Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 18 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 19 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.

300 m70 · reasonable
Wind / gust
9 mph / 22 mph
Coldest
6.5°C
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

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

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 & scramblingBetaA small chance of a thunderstorm in parts of the area. Avoid exposed scrambling if storms develop. Wet rock is likely. Gusts near 30 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. 0Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Regional rock conditions · sampled mountain terrain

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 30 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. A small chance of a thunderstorm in parts of the area. Storm timing is uncertain, so avoid committing to exposed rock if storms may develop.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyExposed gust31 mphRain1.0 mm
Mapped rock across sampled summits1 broad familySummit samples, not a survey of every crag
granite, gneiss or gabbro 100% 5 representative summitsGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.

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.

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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 Dartmoor on Wednesday 18 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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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.

More context for your hill day

Check the approach as well as the tops

Compare midge conditions by day and height, or look for a possible cloud inversion. For Snowdon and Tryfan, camera-derived cloud-base observations add a view of conditions already seen on the slopes.