Peak District mountain weather forecast.

The Dark Peak and higher moors. Height-aware guidance for wind, cloud, rain and temperature.

Mountain Weather brief

Peak District

Thursday 15 October 2026 · The Dark Peak and higher moors

Confidence: Medium Why?

Uncertainty over rain amounts and timing.

What matters most

A mixed day in the Peak District, with a blustery wind and drizzle arriving mid-afternoon.

High-ground wind · 500 m25-35 mph southwesterly Gusts · 500 m35-45 mph Cloud base700-1100 m Feels like · 500 m4 to 8°C
Regional median

Sunshine and sky

Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.

Modelled sunshineLess than 1 hour2% of daylight
Early0 h sunshine
MiddayLess than 1 hour 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 15-35 mph. Gusts around 40-50 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 main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
56
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00MixedSummit winds around 20-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, 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.
55

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 south-westerly 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.

02

Walking impact

Gusts of 35–45 mph are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.

03

Rain and showers

Drizzle sets in mid-afternoon. Expect 2–5 mm in total. Rain is possible during the afternoon, 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.

04

Cloud-free summits

Clear-summit estimate: about 90% early, about 90% around midday and about 90% later.

05

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay clear of cloud all day.

06

Temperature and wind chill

At around 500 m it will be 10 to 14°C, feeling like 4 to 8°C in the wind. Pack waterproofs, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

07

Freezing level

The freezing level is above the summits.

08

Daylight

Sunrise 07:33, Sunset 18:12, about 10.7 hours daylight.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaAcross these hills, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain: about 6 mm of rain. 56Mixed · 300 m View detailsHide details
Regional night beginning Thursday 15 October 2026

Full regional overnight outlook

Across these hills, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the west. About 6 mm of rain is forecast overnight. Overnight lows of about 6°C at 300 m.

Overnight rain5.6 mmOpen ground · 300 m13 mph · gusts 28 mphMorning pack-upDampness possible

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
26%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
19:47 BST

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

Overnight window: 15 Oct, 17:00 BST to 16 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Representative location: 53.385, -1.874. Times vary across the area.

300 m56 · mixed
Wind / gust
13 mph / 28 mph
Coldest
6.0°C
In cloud
0% 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 40 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 40 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes sandstone or gritstone and slate or mudstone. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyExposed gust41 mphRain3.5 mm
Mapped rock across sampled summits2 broad familiesSummit samples, not a survey of every crag
sandstone or gritstone 62% 5 representative summitsUsually rough and grippy when dry. Damp sandstone and gritstone can feel greasy, and saturated sandstone may be weakened, so let the rock dry fully.slate or mudstone 38% 3 representative summitsOften positive when dry, but smooth, polished or slabby sections can become markedly more slippery when damp.

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 14 October 2026 at 15:27 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Peak District.

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.