Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High becoming Medium from Sunday.
This evening forecast
Outbreaks of rain, turning wintry over the summits. Fresh northeast winds at height. Significant wind chill.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy or bright. Occasional snow. Severe wind chill.
| 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) |
70% | 40% | 30% | 40% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 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 |
NE
17
|
NE
18
|
NE
24
|
NE
24
|
NE
21
|
NE
21
|
NE
20
|
NE
25
|
| 600m |
NE
16
|
NE
18
|
NE
19
|
NE
16
|
NE
15
|
NE
15
|
NE
14
|
NE
16
|
| 300m |
NE
10
|
NE
11
|
NE
11
|
NE
9
|
NE
8
|
NE
8
|
NE
8
|
NE
8
|
| Valley |
NE
15
|
NE
16
|
NE
15
|
NE
13
|
NE
11
|
NE
10
|
NE
11
|
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 | 24 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 33 |
| 600m | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
| 300m | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Valley | 25 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
400m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-9°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Nothing further to add.
Weather
Mostly cloudy with patchy snow, rain at low levels, this mainly light, although the odd heavy outbreak possible, giving temporary blizzard conditions at height. Drier spells with the best of the brightness across the Western and Southwestern Fells.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% east, 70% west
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or extensive cloud, base 600 to 900m, lifting and breaking at times in the west. Visibility moderate to very poor in cloud, rain and snow, otherwise good or very good.
Ground conditions
Date Wednesday 11 February. Location Helvellyn summit at 12:40. Temperature plus 0.2degC. Maximum wind speed 18.3mph. Wind chill minus 7.3degC. Average wind speed: 14.2mph Full report: With temperatures just above freezing through to summit level on Helvellyn conditions felt quite damp again today, day four of the thaw had the snow-pack feeling softer but only slightly reduced. The general snow cover is still quite extensive on the plateau area and will be present on all routes to the summit. The swathes of remaining snow, combined with large areas of water-ice higher up, mean crampons and an ice axe are still required for steeper, exposed routes (Swirral Edge for example), and on the less steep walking approaches to the summit, micro-spikes will be a good idea. Once again, the wind-chill is below freezing while the general conditions are damp, so lots of layers and waterproofs, as well as a hat and gloves, will be required to stay comfortable. The visibility has been quite limited recently and a map and compass, as always, will be good to have to hand. With the freeze line forecast to drop to around 500m tomorrow and possibly lower on Friday, prepare for a return to more significant winter conditions on the high fells with colder temperatures and frozen underfoot conditions up high. This is an automated email. If you need a response please email [email protected]
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cold with widespread frost and ice developing. Bright or clear spells with scattered snow showers. Strong northeast winds with a severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, but lowering significantly in any snow showers.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northeast 25 to 30mph gusting 40mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 to Minus 4 Celsius
- Valley Zero to Minus 3 Celsius, rising to Plus 3 Celsius around the middle of the day.
- Freezing level All levels, rising to around 400m around the middle of the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Often no significant cloud, but extensive, base 600m or less in any passing snow showers. Visibility mostly very good or excellent, but poor or very poor in snow showers.
Mountain weather information
Sat 14 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and bright with sunny or clear spells, a hard frost at first. Mostly light winds, but strengthening from the south in the evening, patchy snow possible by midnight. Freezing all levels at first, rising to around 300m
Sun 15 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain and snow with blizzard conditions for a time at height. Severe gale or storm force southerly winds, becoming strong to gale force from the west or southwest during daylight hours, the freezing level rising near or above the summits. Turning more showery.
Mon 16 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers or longer outbreaks of rain and snow as the freezing level lowers to around 600m. Gale to storm force northwest winds for a time. Severe wind chill.
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.