Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence for unsettled, cold and windy conditions throughout this period. Lower for daily rain and snow details, especially from Tuesday.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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
Cloudy with patchy rain or snow. Feeling very cold with strong easterly winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
80% | 60% | 30% | 30% | 20% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
SE
39
|
E
37
|
E
32
|
E
31
|
E
33
|
E
32
|
| 600m |
SE
25
|
SE
24
|
E
22
|
E
21
|
E
22
|
E
20
|
| 300m |
SE
8
|
E
7
|
SE
8
|
E
9
|
E
7
|
E
7
|
| Valley |
SE
9
|
E
7
|
E
8
|
E
7
|
NE
6
|
NE
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 45 | 43 | 39 | 38 | 40 | 39 |
| 600m | 33 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 28 |
| 300m | 28 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
| Valley | 27 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 14 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
700m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A very cold day in the hills, even at modest elevations, with a severe wind chill.
Weather
Rain, with snow above 600m in the early hours. Occasional rain, with snow above 800m, in the morning then mainly dry but rather cloudy in the afternoon and evening. A few bright or clear intervals in the west.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chance in west.
Low cloud and visibility
Frequent cloud above 600m at first, rising to generally above 800 by afternoon. Away from low cloud, visibility mainly good during the day, occasionally a few kilometres or less in rain or snow. Chance of blizzards on the tops in the early hours.
Ground conditions
Location: Helvellyn summit at 19:03. Temperature: plus 0.3degC. Maximum wind speed 44.0mph. Wind chill: minus 8.8degC. Average wind speed: 16.7mph. Full report: Great weather and lower humidity today across much of the Lakeland Fells made it a brilliant day to be out exploring many of the high summits. The snow pack that remains above 800m on N-E aspects has dried and in higher and previously wind-scoured or trodden areas hardened up as snow-ice, untracked snow was in friendly condition, taking weight but possible to kick into slightly too. If actively seeking steep snow, or heading for Swirral Edge in particularly or the Helvellyn headwall, then an axe and crampons will be essential. The Striding Edge crest now looks quite snow free, but immediately if dropping onto the flanks there are still areas of snow lying, including on most of the small skirting paths that usually avoid the difficulties. Most of the other normal walking approaches to the summit will now be much less snowy and should be passable without crampons, but micro-spikes might be worth having if in doubt and with snow showers forecast tomorrow. Much of the melting snow on the summit has left puddles around the trig point which have now refrozen overnight as water ice and there is a small cornice and edge of variable snow around the headwall rim. With a wind-chill of -8.8 today and a strong gusty wind, the conditions still felt very cold and wintery and required full winter layers, hat and gloves, and with the gusts an ice axe was useful for support on anything exposed. Tomorrow expect similar underfoot conditions, with perhaps some fresh snow above 700m, it will likely be poor visibility up high with snow showers and blizzard conditions potentially, so pack warm kit, goggles and navigational equipment, and axecrampons or micro-spikes depending on what route you have in mind.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly dry and cloudy with the odd spot of sleet or snow. A little brightness at times in the west. Feeling bitterly cold with a severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% becoming 70%.
Maximum wind speed expected
East or SE 25 to 35mph gusts 45mph, perhaps 55mph later on ridges and summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 or 3C.
- Valley Plus 4 or 5C.
- Freezing level 400 or 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud above 700 or 800m, lifting in the afternoon. Otherwise mainly good visibility with brief reductions in any sleet or snow flurries.
Mountain weather information
Tue 27 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Heavy spells of sleet and snow are expected to spread east during the day. Severe conditions with southerly gales and blizzards likely to develop. Freezing level 300 or 400m.
Wed 28 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain, sleet or snow clearing then becoming mainly dry and bright. Strong southerly winds. Freezing level 800m.
Thu 29 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining unsettled and windy with periods of rain or hill snow.
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.