Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a fine but cold day Saturday but lower for timings for the arrival of evening snow, clearance on Sunday and change to northerly winds Monday, but reasonably high for a drier conditions towards midweek.
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
Sunny start but cloud increasing. Very cold. Evening snow. Windy in evening
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
00% | 00% | 00% | <05% | 10% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
NE
16
|
W
10
|
SW
8
|
SW
13
|
S
24
|
S
36
|
| 600m |
NW
7
|
SW
5
|
SW
6
|
SW
12
|
S
21
|
S
29
|
| 300m |
NW
2
|
NW
2
|
SW
3
|
SW
6
|
S
6
|
S
9
|
| Valley |
N
1
|
NW
0
|
SW
3
|
SW
5
|
S
5
|
S
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 18 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 28 | 43 |
| 600m | 10 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 29 | 39 |
| 300m | 11 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 28 |
| Valley | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 26 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
0°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
0m
|
200m
|
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-11°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Valley temperatures around minus 3 or 4 Celsius at dawn. Very cold at height despite the sunshine. Gusts around 60mph over higher ridges and summits in late evening.
Weather
Dry and largely clear overnight with frozen surfaces at all levels. Then a dry and bright morning with some good spells of sunshine, however the sunshine becomes hazier from midday as cloud above the summits increases. Outbreaks of snow, becoming occasionally heavy towards midnight, will spread east from mid-evening
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
100% through daylight hours, but chances fall towards zero through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
No cloud expected below the summits through daylight hours, becoming periods or persistent above 450-600m from the west through the evening. Away from cloud, visibility generally excellent with good panoramic views of lakes and surrounding fells, falling to just a few kilometres in evening snow and perhaps less than a kilometre in heavier snow.
Ground conditions
Date: Friday 13 February: Location: Helvellyn summit at 14:47. Temperature: minus 4.7°C. Maximum wind speed 45.1mph. Wind chill: minus 17.5°C. Average wind speed: 25.2mph Full report: With the freeze-line having dropped further last night and some additional overnight snow down to just above valley level, Helvellyn and most of the fells across the Lake District cleared this morning to reveal a very wintery scene. On Helvellyn today the additional fresh snow on top of yesterdays snow had the high ground in full winter condition, the NE wind has been moving snow about (wind-transported snow) and it was starting to accumulate as wind-slab on W-SW aspects with some quite significant depths, generally its quite avoidable, but in places where it overlays older hard snow it will require caution, such as the gully heads around Brown Cove Crags for example. Whilst very avoidable generally, the cross-loaded snow accumulations above Red Tarn were quite impressive and showing clear wind-slab (avalanche prone) characteristics. All the old wet snow that remained on the mountain, on the headwall and around the plateau and upper edges, has now transformed into hard neve (snow-ice) and requires an ice axe and crampons for safe travel, and with the slope run-outs often into scree or only thinly snowed terrain, is currently very consequential in the event of a fall. Other less steep approaches to the summit from the Thirlmere side are also in full winter condition, with water ice, hard old snow and accumulations of new fresh snow, meaning micro-spikes and possibly an ice axe for support will be useful even on these approaches. In addition to spikes and an axe, full winter clothing, warm layers, hat and gloves are all essential. Safety additions such as a group shelter, a warm emergency layer (big Primaloft jacket or similar), a head-torch and goggles are all a really good idea currently with a return to much colder winter conditions on the high fells. With a very good forecast tomorrow, it should be an amazing winter day on the fells for the well prepared! https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/ This is an automated email. If you need a response please email [email protected]
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloud and occasionally heavy snow, falling increasingly as rain below about 750m, through the morning with blizzard conditions and drifting snow possible, especially over the higher fells. The snow and rain clear east towards midday with showers following for the afternoon and evening, these increasingly wintry above about 600m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance through much of the morning improving to 60% for the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 30 to 40mph, gusts around 65mph over ridges and summits, becoming westerly 20-25mph, gusts around 40mph over ridges and summits, around midday.
Temperature
- At 800m Around minus 4 Celsius rising to around Zero Celsius
- Valley Around plus 2 Celsius rising to plus 6 or 7 Celsius by day
- Freezing level 300m or less rising to 900m by late morning, falling back to 750m in afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud above 450-600m, but nearer 300m or less at times especially for southern fells, through much of the morning becoming more occasional above 600-750m for the afternoon. Away from cloud, visibility just a few kilometres in rain and snow, but less than a kilometre in heavier snow and near zero in blizzards and drifting snow, becoming very good or excellent for the afternoon with temporary reductions in showers.
Mountain weather information
Mon 16 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and wintry showers, these dying out through the day as the occasionally strong westerly wind turns more northerly. Freezing level around 750m falling to 300m.
Tue 17 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with sunny spells. Occasionally strong northerly winds easing and backing more easterly. Freezing level 300m, rising to around 600m for a time.
Wed 18 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry day with sunny spells but a strengthening easterly or southeasterly breeze. Freezing level 300m or less.
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.