Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Low confidence for Saturday, see meteorologists view for details. Otherwise, high confidence for a dry settled day on Sunday then turning more unsettled from the end of the weekend.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
Mountain weather forecast
Outbreaks of rain likely to turn to snow to lower levels in the afternoon.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 20% | 60% | 70% | 60% | 50% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
S
15
|
SE
7
|
N
11
|
N
30
|
N
39
|
N
32
|
| 600m |
S
12
|
S
5
|
N
8
|
N
24
|
N
29
|
NW
23
|
| 300m |
S
3
|
S
3
|
N
5
|
N
10
|
N
10
|
N
10
|
| Valley |
S
1
|
E
2
|
NE
7
|
N
15
|
N
15
|
N
12
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 17 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 48 | 38 |
| 600m | 16 | 7 | 10 | 31 | 37 | 31 |
| 300m | 11 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 28 | 27 |
| Valley | 10 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 34 | 29 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
700m
|
500m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-6°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Note uncertainty in track and depth of low pressure across the UK, with a 30% chance of a deeper low, which would likely result in heavier snow and stronger winds, while 10% chance of shallower low giving a largely dry day.
Weather
Cloudy with some light rain, snow above 900m, at first. Rain turns more persistent through the morning, turning to snow down to 700m. This may turn heavier in the afternoon with snow possible down to 400m. Rain and snow continuing through the evening but gradually turning lighter. Western Fells dry by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% or less.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility for much of the day in rain, snow and low cloud, with cloud bases often down to lower slopes, but may lift to 500-600m at times. Cloud likely to lift above the summits late evening.
Ground conditions
No recent ground conditions report available.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Largely dry through the early hours with increasingly clear skies. Then a dry day. Sunny in the morning, but high cloud increasing and lowering through the afternoon. Increasing winds and rain spreading east late evening, preceded by snow above 700m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% or more.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 15-20 mph, soon easing to Westerly 10-15 mph. Becoming Southerly 35 gusting 45 mph in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 Celsius rising to plus 2 Celsius in the evening.
- Valley Minus 2 Celsius rising to plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level 300-400m, rising to 600m around midday, above the summits by midnight.
Low cloud and visibility
Very good or excellent visibility through the day, with no cloud expected on the hills. Visibility falling poor late evening in rain and hill fog, cloud lowering to 300-400m.
Mountain weather information
Mon 1 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A wet and windy day with strong southwest winds and outbreaks of rain. Likely to turn drier with lighter winds late afternoon. Freezing level above the summits, dropping to 1000m by evening.
Tue 2 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Often cloudy, but largely dry. A chance of some bright or sunny spells later in the day. Rain likely late evening or overnight. Freezing level above the summits.
Wed 3 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Most likely cloudy with a few showers, but mainly dry. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing level above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.