Is it safe to climb Ben Hope today and tomorrow?

Today on Ben Hope is rated Poor and tomorrow Poor, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 17:58, 28 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Ben Hope today?

Poor Today Wednesday 28 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 45 mph, gusting 56 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
• Rain: 100% chance of rain, about 7 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 96% and humidity 94% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 5°C at the summit, down to 2°C, feeling as cold as -5°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:24, sunset 16:39: 9h 15m of daylight.

Is it safe to climb Ben Hope tomorrow?

Poor Tomorrow Thursday 29 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 41 mph, gusting 51 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
• Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0.1 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 87% and humidity 88% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 7°C at the summit, down to 5°C, feeling as cold as -1°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:27, sunset 16:37: 9h 10m of daylight.

Is it safe to climb Ben Hope this weekend?

Good Saturday 31 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 24 mph, gusting 30 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 47% chance of rain, about 0.1 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 31% and humidity 91% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -2°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:31, sunset 16:32: 9h 0m of daylight.

Marginal Sunday 1 November

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 30 mph, gusting 38 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
• Rain: 8% chance of rain, about 0.3 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 59% and humidity 89% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to -1°C, feeling as cold as -4°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:34, sunset 16:29: 8h 55m of daylight.

Weekend forecasts firm up during the week; check again the day before.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Ben Hope

Is it safe to climb Ben Hope today?

Today, Wednesday 28 October: dense drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 45 mph gusting 56 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Ben Hope tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Thursday 29 October: mostly dry, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

How does Peakify decide whether Ben Hope is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Ben Hope?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.