Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in the unsettled and often very windy conditions prevailing during the next few days, but with a much brighter day expected on Friday after a wet Thursday afternoon.
This evening forecast
Overcast with extensive low cloud and outbreaks of rain. Gales or severe gales on upper slopes.
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.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Mountain weather forecast
A dry start but rain arriving by afternoon, occasionally heavy. Windy, occasional gales on summits.
| 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) |
30% | 20% | 10% | 10% | 40% | 70% | 70% | 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
32
|
SW
40
|
SW
31
|
S
28
|
S
36
|
SE
33
|
SW
28
|
SW
40
|
| 600m |
SW
26
|
SW
31
|
SW
24
|
S
25
|
S
29
|
SE
26
|
S
20
|
SW
32
|
| 300m |
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
SW
8
|
S
7
|
S
11
|
SE
11
|
SW
7
|
SW
14
|
| Valley |
SW
10
|
SW
11
|
SW
7
|
S
6
|
SE
10
|
SE
10
|
S
7
|
SW
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 | 38 | 49 | 38 | 34 | 45 | 42 | 34 | 52 |
| 600m | 34 | 43 | 34 | 33 | 40 | 36 | 27 | 45 |
| 300m | 25 | 32 | 25 | 22 | 30 | 28 | 21 | 35 |
| Valley | 25 | 29 | 21 | 19 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,400m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
4°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Windy conditions will make for challenging walking on upper slopes, especially in the afternoon when combined with drenching conditions. High watercourses will make river crossings hazardous, perhaps impassable.
Weather
A dry start to the day with a few patches of hill fog. Occasionally heavy rain sets in from early afternoon making for drenching conditions, this most persistent across the south Lakes before gradually clearing late evening to leave a few scattered showers. Occasional gale force gusts on summits.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20%, best of the across the north Lakes.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud above 600m in the morning with generally good visiblity below this. Visibility deteriorating to a couple of kilometres in afternoon rain, with cloud bases occasionally thickening and lowering to 400-500m, especially in the south.
Ground conditions
After yesterdays more settled conditions, today has seen a return to damper, more blustery summit conditions. This morning saw persistent light rain and strong gusts, rivers are currently not too high but with the ground being so saturated and persistent rain forecast this is likely to change. From about 900m upward the damp conditions combined with a -10.6 wind-chill was producing some rime-ice on exposed areas, rocks had a coating even on the sheltered side of the mountain at the top section of Swirral Edge for example. The iced rocks are unavoidable and the rime-ice often invisible so care should be taken and micro-spikes considered if not confident. As has been the case a lot recently, the wet and windy conditions combined with the low wind-chill are very conducive to becoming hypothermic, so plenty of warm layers, waterproofs, hat and gloves are all essential for staying comfortable on the higher fells.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A bright and very blusterly day with sunny spells and a few showers in the morning, but mainly dry in the afternoon. Gales on upper slopes.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% increasing to 80% by afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Gusting 45-55mph at height.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 Celsius.
- Valley Plus 3 rising 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud down to around 700m in showers, otherwise mainly clear with good visbility.
Mountain weather information
Sat 20 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strong winds, with gales or severe gales at height. A dry and bright start but turning cloudier with outbreaks of rain. Freezing level 1200m.
Sun 21 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Fairly cloudy with a few outbreaks of rain and summit sleet or snow. Freezing level 1000m. Moderate to fresh summit winds.
Mon 22 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining rather cloudy with the risk of a few spells of light rain. Fresh to strong summit winds and freezing level well above 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.