Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for generally mild and occasionally unsettled weather. Lowering confidence for the timing detail of the worst of the conditions.
This evening forecast
Mainly dry with clear spells. Strong to gale summit winds bringing a severe wind chill at height. Freezing level above summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly fair by day. Rain developing into evening. Summit gales.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | 20% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
SW
43
|
SW
47
|
S
44
|
S
45
|
S
44
|
S
42
|
S
40
|
S
42
|
| 600m |
SW
37
|
SW
40
|
S
36
|
S
36
|
S
34
|
S
32
|
S
32
|
S
33
|
| 300m |
SW
14
|
S
15
|
S
15
|
S
12
|
S
12
|
S
11
|
S
12
|
S
15
|
| Valley |
SW
13
|
SW
13
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
13
|
S
16
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 53 | 58 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 52 | 51 | 53 |
| 600m | 49 | 53 | 48 | 49 | 46 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| 300m | 37 | 40 | 39 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 37 |
| Valley | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,400m
|
1,500m
|
1,600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gales and most severe wind chill confined to the higher routes.
Weather
Most staying dry through the day with occasional bright spells, but the odd light, isolated shower may appear. Cloud thickening from the west into the evening bringing patchy rain, which turns heavier and more persistent towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% by day
Low cloud and visibility
Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in rain or showers, very poor within cloud which occasionally lowers to 800m by day.
Ground conditions
Date: Wednesday 10 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:05 Full report: Saturated ground, horizontal rain & hail. The back end of Storm Bram has been reluctant to move on. Although its tail winds were evident from the car park, the morning remained relatively dry with only a few fast-moving showers. The real sting came at Helvellyn summit around noon, after an ascent via a relatively sheltered Swirral Edge. Here, the full force of near 50 mph west-south-west winds, combined with driving rain and hail, made for harsh conditions. By early afternoon the weather had deteriorated further, with persistent heavy rain falling onto already saturated ground. Streams became swollen, and even normally insignificant becks were a challenge to cross. As a winter storm, Bram has been marked by its unusually mild temperatures, pulling air from the Atlantic and North Africa. This was evident with readings of +5°C at Red Tarn and +3°C on the summit. Despite this, hail and wind chill produced conditions equivalent to feeling like -5.5°C. This thoroughly tested winter clothing including a warm hat and gloves, which is essential. Only the thinnest remnants of snow remain, lining the upper edge of Brown Cove (East). Swirral Edge and Striding Edge are completely snow-free. A walking pole proved useful for maintaining balance on the exposed summit plateau. The weather is expected to settle somewhat on Thursday and Friday, though conditions will remain changeable. Poor weather is forecast to return over Saturday or Sunday. Temperature: plus 3.0C, Maximum wind speed 49.2mph, Wind chill: minus 5.5C, Average wind speed: 40.6mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Perhaps some early rain around dawn. Otherwise a largely dry and bright day, though some showers developing for the evening. Summit winds increasing strong from mid-day, bringing a severe wind chill at height.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% at dawn, otherwise 80% by day
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest increasing mean 20-25mph from noon, with gusts reaching 40mph across exposed ridges and summits
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 5 Celsius
- Valley Plus 5 Celsius increasing 9 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in any early rain or later showers, very poor within cloud, probably quite extensive at 800m around dawn, but lifted and well broken for the rest of the day.
Mountain weather information
Sat 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Fair conditions for the morning, then cloud and eventually rain reaching from the west later in the day, as southwest severe gale to storm force summit winds develop. Freezing level above all summits.
Sun 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain or showers, tending to be heavier and more persistent early in the day. Gale to severe gale summit winds. Freezing level above all summits.
Mon 15 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain or showers, turning heavy at times. Strong to gale summit winds. Freezing level above all summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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.