Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head today and tomorrow?

Today on Bleaklow Head is rated Marginal and tomorrow Good, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 09:10, 28 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head today?

Marginal Today Wednesday 28 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 39 mph, gusting 49 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: 100% chance of rain, about 3.9 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 94% and humidity 97% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 9°C at the summit, down to 4°C, feeling as cold as -1°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 06:58, sunset 16:43: 9h 45m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head tomorrow?

Good Tomorrow Thursday 29 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 19 mph, gusting 23 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 72% 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 10°C at the summit, down to 7°C, feeling as cold as 4°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:00, sunset 16:41: 9h 41m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head this weekend?

Good Saturday 31 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 9 mph, gusting 11 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 67% and humidity 95% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 10°C at the summit, down to 3°C, feeling as cold as 0°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:04, sunset 16:37: 9h 33m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Good Sunday 1 November

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 17 mph, gusting 21 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 12% chance of rain, about 0.9 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 69% and humidity 96% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. 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 4°C, feeling as cold as 0°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:35: 9h 29m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

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.

Route notes for Bleaklow Head

Snake Pass via the Pennine Way

From Snake Pass summit (roadside parking). You follow the flagged and peaty Pennine Way north along Devil's Dike and past the Wain Stones to the summit. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 1h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule (4.1 km one way, 126 m of ascent).

Old Glossop via Higher Shelf Stones

From Old Glossop. A path follows Shelf Brook up into the moors, passes Higher Shelf Stones and the aircraft wreck, then crosses groughs to Bleaklow Head. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.9 km one way, 477 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Bleaklow Head routes page.

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 Bleaklow Head

Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head today?

Today, Wednesday 28 October: slight rain, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 39 mph gusting 49 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Bleaklow Head tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Thursday 29 October: fog, up to 10°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 4°C, summit wind 19 mph gusting 23 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good.

How does Peakify decide whether Bleaklow Head 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 Bleaklow Head?

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.