Northumberland and Cheviots
A mixed day in Northumberland and the Cheviots, with sleet or snow on the tops and a blustery wind.
Sunshine and sky
Limited sunny breaks. Any sunshine is likely to come through limited breaks.
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 (600 m)
At around 600 m, expect a southerly wind of 25–35 mph, gusting 35–45 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
Walking impact
Gusts of 35–45 mph are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
Rain and showers
Sleet or snow is possible on the tops. A band of rain moves in around midday. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. On some hills, sleet or snow is possible on the tops, with the balance depending on temperature. Sleet or snow is possible on some higher tops in the afternoon, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 800 to 600 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 65% early and about 60% around midday.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of clear tops early on.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 600 m it will be 2 to 6°C, feeling like -8 to -4°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 07:53, Sunset 15:54, about 8.0 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m on some hills (gusts of about 45 mph and about 6 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m on some hills. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. About 6 mm of rain is forecast overnight. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 300 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 91%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 05:04 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: 21 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 22 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 55.478, -2.145. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 21 mph / 39 mph
- Coldest
- 2.4°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 25 mph / 47 mph
- Coldest
- 2.6°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
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 & scramblingBetaSnow is likely to be lying on some high ground, with further snowfall possible. Wet 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 and volcanic rock. 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.
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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 Northumberland and Cheviots.