Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled and changeable conditions but lower confidence for day to day timings of rain so please keep updated with the latest forecast.
This evening forecast
Mainly cloudy with occasional showers, falling as sleet above 800m. Strong westerly winds with summit gales. Freezing level above summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
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 weather forecast
Outbreaks of rain becoming heavy and persistent in the afternoon. Strong to gale force winds.
| 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) |
60% | 60% | 80% | 60% | 70% | >95% | >95% | >95% |
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 |
W
35
|
SW
33
|
SW
37
|
SW
38
|
SW
33
|
SW
39
|
SW
41
|
SW
41
|
| 600m |
SW
25
|
SW
25
|
SW
26
|
SW
26
|
SW
25
|
SW
26
|
SW
27
|
SW
26
|
| 300m |
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
SW
8
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
| Valley |
SW
7
|
SW
9
|
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
SW
7
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
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 | 42 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 41 | 46 | 50 | 50 |
| 600m | 34 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 36 |
| 300m | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 |
| Valley | 23 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 25 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,800m
|
1,900m
|
1,700m
|
2,200m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Arduous walking conditions on high slopes due to the strong winds, especially in the afternoon and evening as the heavy rain sets. Good navigation skills will also be required due to the low cloud.
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain overnight then drier for a few hours during the morning. The rain will return, becoming persistent and heavy through the afternoon, and will continue through the evening. Drenching conditions setting in through the afternoon due to rain combined with strong to gale force winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Less than 10%.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud and fog above 500 or 600m overnight and during the morning but good visibility at times below the cloud. Visibility becoming generally poor as cloud and fog become extensive above 300 or 400m in the afternoon with patches down to valley level in the west.
Ground conditions
Date: Friday 20 February, location: Helvellyn summit at 11:51. Temperature: plus 2.9C, Maximum wind speed 30.6mph, Wind chill: minus 6.2C, Average wind speed: 23.7mph. Full report: Back to slightly more challenging conditions on Helvellyn and the Lakeland Fells today! With the freezing levels rising above the summits, light rain and sleet, and an increase in wind speed from yesterday's total calm (zero mph recorded!), it was a very different day to be up high today. The snow and ice conditions and coverage will be effected by the damp, warmer weather, but at the time of the report it was just starting to show, snow coverage from the half-way boulder on the Swirls approach is still wide-spread and unavoidable, trodden snow is still hard, and there is a lot of old water ice about, the only change to the ground conditions that was noticeable was a softening of the older snow-ice, and some of the most recent snow on top becoming very wet and slushy in places. In terms of technical equipment, the mountain is still in full and committing winter condition on all approaches so crampons and an ice axe would still be recommended on all routes. The other change to note, is the higher temperatures and rain, combined with a still below freezing wind-chill, create very tough conditions for staying comfortable in, good quality waterproofs, warm layers, hat, gloves and spares are all essential. A group shelter is also a really useful and reassuring thing to have in the bag along with other emergency equipment. The visibility was very limited on the plateau area today and definition was hard to make out in the flat light and snow, so hazards such as cornices (overhanging snow lips at the plateaus edge where it drops into the Coves) are at times very hard to make out, a map and compass combined with navigation skills are essential for avoiding these types of hazards and efficient travel around the plateau area. Looking ahead its forecast for similar weather to continue with the freezing level above the summits but a cool wind-chill, so pack warm and have the winter essentials, and let's hope not too much snow disappears before the next freeze.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Heavy rain clearing early in the night. A drier day with bright spells and occasional showers, the odd one could be heavy with sleet or wet snow above 800m. Feeling cold on the tops with strong to gale force winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% overnight, becoming 60% during morning.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 30 to 40mph gusts 55mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 4C.
- Valley Plus 8 or 9C.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive low cloud clearing away overnight. Mainly good visibility during the day but patchy cloud above 600m with occasional deteriorations in showers.
Mountain weather information
Mon 23 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the morning, turning heavy and persistent through the afternoon. Strong to gale force southwest winds. Freezing level above summits.
Tue 24 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy with patchy rain or drizzle but some brightness at times. Windy on the tops but mild with freezing level above summits.
Wed 25 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and mild with patchy rain, mainly in the southwest. Wind easing. 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.