Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled, rather mild often windy conditions through the coming week, but lower for timings of arrival and clearance of more persistent rain.
This evening forecast
Afternoon rain soon clearing then clear spells and a few showers. Strong westerly or southwesterly winds, gusts around 50mph over ridges and 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.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Early heavy rain then sunny spells and showers. 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) |
20% | 30% | 70% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 20% | <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 |
SW
34
|
SW
35
|
SW
43
|
SW
39
|
SW
38
|
SW
36
|
SW
30
|
S
25
|
| 600m |
SW
28
|
SW
28
|
SW
35
|
SW
32
|
SW
30
|
SW
29
|
SW
25
|
S
21
|
| 300m |
SW
12
|
SW
11
|
SW
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
11
|
S
9
|
| Valley |
SW
12
|
SW
9
|
SW
15
|
SW
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
12
|
SW
11
|
S
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 | 43 | 45 | 55 | 50 | 49 | 46 | 38 | 32 |
| 600m | 39 | 39 | 49 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 35 | 29 |
| 300m | 30 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 35 | 32 | 26 | 22 |
| Valley | 28 | 25 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
1,500m
|
1,400m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,400m
|
1,500m
|
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°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Feeling very cold at height with gusts around 60mph over ridges and summits at first.
Weather
Clear spells and showers, the showers becoming more frequent and heavier through the early hours and merging to give a longer spells of occasionally heavy, perhaps thundery, rain towards the end of the night. The rain clears soon after dawn and cloud breaks to leave sunny spells and showers, perhaps heavy at times and turning wintry over the highest Fell Tops. The showers gradually die out through the evening but cloud increasing towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 25% at first soon becoming 75%.
Low cloud and visibility
Periods of cloud above 600-750m, with patches below, at dawn soon becoming more occasional, during the evening occasional cloud above 450m may develop across southern fells. Away from cloud, visibility very good or excellent, but several kilometres in early rain and showers and perhaps a kilometre in any summit wintriness.
Ground conditions
Date: Sunday 7 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:10 Full report: Valley mist, summit cloud, depleted snow patches. Low-level mist lingered from the start of the ascent from Swirls car park, eventually giving way to good mid-height visibility before returning to cloud a few hundred metres below the summit of Helvellyn. Temperatures were slightly higher than forecast (6.5 deg. at 750m), and paths remained mostly dry, aside from a handful of lawn-sized patches and runnels of snow that were easily avoided-though still enough for some to claim an "ascent in the snow." The most substantial areas of remaining snow lie above 800m, mainly on cove (corrie) rims and North through East-facing slopes. Although the snow is damp and soft, it is generally consolidated, with some visible creep near the edges. Avoid standing on these lips or looking over them, as tempting as it may be: they are weakened and can fail without warning. The summit paths are all but clear of snow, with the main hazard now being relocating descent routes in poor visibility, especially as cloud lowers. Rain arrived by the afternoon, accelerating the deterioration of any remaining snowpatches. With similarly mild conditions expected on Monday, hazards for walkers are likely to include: Cold wind chill, requiring full winter clothing. Reduced visibility, demanding confident navigation using a map and compass or reliable digital tools.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with occasionally heavy rain arriving soon after midnight and continuing through the rest of the night. The rain clears through the first half of the morning to leave sunny spells and blustery showers, with conditions underfoot likely to be very wet, with swollen water courses.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Close to zero at first gradually becoming 75% through the late morning and early afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 25-30mph, gusts around 50mph over ridges and summits, veering southwesterly 30-35mph by mid-morning, with gusts around 60mph over ridges and summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Around plus 4 or 5 Celsius rising to plus 9 or 10 Celsius for a time around midday
- Valley Around plus 7 or 8 Celsius rising to 14 or 15 Celsius by early afternoon
- Freezing level Above the summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud 450-600m, with patches below, at first gradually becoming more occasional above 600-750m through the late morning and early afternoon. Away from cloud, visibility very good or excellent, falling to several kilometres in rain and showers.
Mountain weather information
Wed 10 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some sunny spells but generally rather a lot of cloud with occasional showers. Strong southwesterly winds, risk of summit gales. Freezing level above the summits.
Thu 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright start but cloud and outbreaks of rain spreading east in morning, the rain easing in the afternoon. Strong southwesterly winds becoming more southerly and easing. Freezing levels above summits
Fri 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain. Occasionally fresh southerly winds. Freezing level above 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.