Mountain weather

Lake District

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Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Generally high throughout the forecast period with the main uncertainties around cloud amounts.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Dry with lengthy clear spells across the western Fells, some patchy cloud near the tops in the east. Fresh easterly winds, gusting around 40 mph across the felltops. Freezing level 600m.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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 hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Cold and windy, but dry with good sunny spells.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Clear night Clear night Clear night Sunny day Sunny day Clear night Clear night Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 10% 10% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05%

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 E
26
 E
25
 E
27
 E
34
 E
29
 NE
30
 NE
33
 NE
35
600m E
18
 E
18
 E
18
 E
24
 E
17
 E
18
 NE
19
 E
18
300m E
4
 NE
3
 E
4
 E
9
 E
9
 NE
9
 NE
8
 E
9
Valley NE
5
 NE
3
 NE
6
 NE
11
 NE
12
 NE
10
 NE
12
 NE
11
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 32 31 33 41 36 38 41 43
600m 25 24 24 34 24 25 26 25
300m 18 14 20 27 25 25 25 25
Valley 12 9 14 27 27 26 28 28

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-2°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
600m
0°
0°
0°
0°
1°
1°
0°
0°
300m
1°
1°
1°
2°
3°
3°
2°
2°
Valley
3°
3°
3°
4°
6°
5°
4°
4°
Freezing Level
400m
400m
300m
400m
600m
600m
500m
500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-9°
-9°
-10°
-12°
-10°
-10°
-11°
-11°
600m
-7°
-7°
-7°
-8°
-5°
-5°
-6°
-6°
300m
-1°
-2°
-2°
-2°
0°
-1°
-1°
-2°
Valley
1°
1°
1°
0°
2°
2°
1°
1°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Gusts of 45 mph across the higher summits giving a bitterly cold feel despite the sunshine.

Weather

Low cloud in the early hours, but clear spells across the western Fells. Patchy summit cloud disperses through the morning to leave a dry and largely sunny Christmas day, but feeling cold in strong winds across the tops. Dry with largely clear skies in the evening and overnight.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90%

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with patchy summit cloud soon dispersing in the morning.

Ground conditions

Date: Wednesday 24 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 10:45 Temperature: minus 1.4 deg C Maximum wind speed 22.8mph Wind chill: minus 9.4 deg C Average wind speed: 16.5 mph Full report: Bright, dry, bitter wind chill Excellent walking conditions were found across Lakeland this Christmas Eve. A period of high pressure is dominating the UK and brought widespread brightness, with extensive sunshine and very good visibility across the National Park. Conditions were dry underfoot at all levels, making for straightforward walking as well as good scrambling on dry rock on Striding and Swirral Edges. These will be similar conditions right across the park. The most notable factor was the blustery wind, averaging around 15 mph, combined with an air temperature of -1.5°C. In these moderately light winds, wind chill is most effective, rapidly stripping heat from exposed skin. Full body coverage was needed in the bitterly cold wind, along with adequate insulating layers. This will be a theme for the next few days. An overnight frost persisted, leaving ice on paths from around 620m upwards. Rime ice (ice forming on windward surfaces) was observed on the Helvellyn summit, creating a distinctive, tinselled appearance. Apart from this, no snow is present on the fells. Microspikes were not required today, though they may be worth carrying over the coming days as temperatures are expected to fall further.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Clear skies through the early hours with some frost in the valleys. Then a dry sunny day, but feeling cold in the wind. Clear skies to start the night, but some shallow fog may form in the valleys.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90% or more.

Maximum wind speed expected

East-northeast 25-30 gusting 35-40 mph

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2 Celsius rising to 5 Celsius.
  • Valley Minus 1 Celsius rising to plus 3 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 600-700m, although the tops above freezing.

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with no cloud expected on the hills.

Mountain weather information

Sat 27 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Clear skies to start with some fog in the valleys. Cloud will increase through the day giving some patchy hill fog, but remaining dry. Fresh east or northeast winds. Freezing level soon rising above the summits.

Sun 28 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy in the east, but some sunny spells in the west. Moderate east or northeast winds. Freezing level 700m.

Mon 29 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly dry but cloudy with some hill fog, best chance of any bright or sunny spells in the west. Light northeast winds. Freezing level 600m.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.

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