Is the A66 Open Today?
Status at 22:26 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: 2 items reported for the A66 over Stainmore: planned lane closure in force now on the A66 (A66 eastbound between A592 and M6); planned lane closure in force now on the A66 (A66 eastbound between A67 near Bowes and A1(M)). Source: National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16). Confirm with National Highways before you travel. Forecast for the top: no snow, ice or fog flagged in the next 48 hours (lowest 5°C, gusts up to 29 mph).
The A66 between Penrith (M6 junction 40) and Scotch Corner (A1(M)) crosses the Pennines over Stainmore, about 440 m up, between Brough and Bowes. It is a National Highways trunk road. The exposed top is closed to high-sided vehicles in strong winds and to all traffic in storms and heavy snow.
Closures and incidents reported now
- Planned lane closure in force: A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A592 and M6 (Mon 2 Nov 19:00 – 06:00) · National Highways
- Planned lane closure in force: A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A67 near Bowes and A1(M) (Mon 2 Nov 20:00 – 06:00) · National Highways
Planned closures in the next 48 hours
| When (UK time) | What |
|---|---|
| works period Tue 13 Oct 06:00 – 31 Mar 2029 | Lane closure (works period: not every night) A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A6 and B6542 near Appleby-in-Westmorland (north)
A66 eastbound Kemplay to Brougham lane 2 closure |
| works period Sat 17 Oct 06:00 – Sat 7 Nov 06:00 | Lane closure (works period: not every night) A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A685 and A67 near Bowes
A66 Eastbound Brough to Stainmore Cafe Lane 1 closure with a switch |
| Mon 2 Nov 19:00 – 06:00 | Lane closure A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A592 and M6
A66 Eastbound redhills to Jct 40 Lane 2 closure |
| Mon 2 Nov 20:00 – 06:00 | Lane closure A66 eastbound · A66 eastbound between A67 near Bowes and A1(M)
A66 Smallways to New Lane eastbound lane 2 closure |
Snow, ice, fog and wind risk at the top
No trigger reached in the next 48 hours. Max gust 29 mph from the E (Wed 12:00); snow 0.0 cm in total; lowest 5°C.
| UK time | Risk | Gust | Wind | Temp | Snow | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 22:00 | No trigger reached | 16 mph | 7 mph NE | 6.6°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 01:00 | No trigger reached | 20 mph | 10 mph NE | 6.8°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 04:00 | No trigger reached | 17 mph | 8 mph ENE | 6.6°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 07:00 | No trigger reached | 16 mph | 7 mph NE | 6.4°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 10:00 | No trigger reached | 23 mph | 11 mph NE | 7°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 13:00 | No trigger reached | 28 mph | 14 mph ENE | 7.3°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 16:00 | No trigger reached | 21 mph | 10 mph ENE | 5.8°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 19:00 | No trigger reached | 26 mph | 13 mph ENE | 5.9°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Tue 22:00 | No trigger reached | 22 mph | 11 mph ENE | 5.4°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 01:00 | No trigger reached | 24 mph | 11 mph NE | 5.6°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 04:00 | No trigger reached | 22 mph | 11 mph NE | 5.8°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 07:00 | No trigger reached | 23 mph | 11 mph NE | 6.1°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 10:00 | No trigger reached | 26 mph | 13 mph ENE | 7.1°C | 0.0 cm | 7,120 m |
| Wed 13:00 | No trigger reached | 27 mph | 13 mph ENE | 8.3°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 16:00 | No trigger reached | 22 mph | 10 mph ENE | 6.9°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
| Wed 19:00 | No trigger reached | 22 mph | 10 mph ENE | 5.6°C | 0.0 cm | 10 km+ |
What triggers a closure or a ban
| Trigger | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Storm-force gusts (no fixed trigger) | Full closure for safety. Example: 7 December 2024 (Storm Darragh), closed both ways between Augill Beck and Scotch Corner with gusts of up to 70 mph predicted. | National Highways newsroom (6 December 2024) checked 2026-11-02 · yes (a past closure; no standing threshold is published) |
| Strong winds | Closures to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles between Brough and Bowes are common; National Highways asks drivers of high-sided HGVs, motorhomes, motorcycles and vehicles towing caravans or trailers to check conditions first. | National Highways newsroom (6 December 2024) checked 2026-11-02 · partial: the advice is official; no mph trigger is published |
| Heavy snow and drifting | Closure over the tops when snow and strong wind combine. No published snow-depth trigger. | National Highways newsroom checked 2026-11-02 · partial |
National Highways signs the diversion for each closure; it does not publish a standing route. The nearest all-purpose east-west alternatives are the A69 (Carlisle to Newcastle) to the north and the M62 to the south, both long detours.
Official status pages
A66 Trans-Pennine (Stainmore) — FAQ
Is the A66 Open Right Now?
Is the A66 open from Penrith to Scotch Corner today?
Is the A66 closed tonight?
Is the A66 closed to high-sided vehicles?
Why does the A66 close in winter?
Sources and method. Planned closures: National Highways Road and Lane Closures API (England, refreshed hourly). Live incidents: National Highways, Traffic Wales and Traffic Scotland feeds (every 15 minutes), matched by road number and a small box around each structure. Weather: Open-Meteo forecast API, CC BY 4.0, refreshed hourly. Risk levels apply each operator's published rule to the forecast gust (or our own bands where no rule is published, marked as ours); they are a guide, not an operator decision. A wind closure is often decided within the hour and can reach the feeds late, so always check the operator. Rules checked 2 November 2026.