Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled, but lowering for the confidence in the timing detail of worst of the weather.
This evening forecast
Rather cloudy with showers, wintry across highest tops. Outbreaks waning towards midnight. Strong to gale southeast summit winds. Freezing level 900-1000m.
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.
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
Overcast with rain and summit snow at first. Improving during the afternoon. Winds initially strong to gale. Freezing level lowering later.
| 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) |
10% | 60% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 20% | 20% | 10% |
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 |
S
37
|
SE
41
|
SE
40
|
SE
39
|
S
22
|
S
16
|
SW
14
|
SW
15
|
| 600m |
S
29
|
SE
32
|
SE
31
|
SE
29
|
S
18
|
S
13
|
SW
10
|
SW
12
|
| 300m |
SE
12
|
SE
13
|
SE
14
|
SE
14
|
SW
8
|
S
5
|
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
| Valley |
SE
11
|
SE
10
|
SE
13
|
SE
12
|
SW
8
|
S
4
|
E
3
|
SW
4
|
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 | 45 | 49 | 49 | 47 | 27 | 19 | 17 | 19 |
| 600m | 39 | 43 | 42 | 39 | 25 | 16 | 13 | 16 |
| 300m | 30 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 12 |
| Valley | 27 | 28 | 33 | 30 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Very difficult conditions in the extensive morning hill fog, driving rain and later summit snow, coupled with a severe wind chill at height in summit gales.
Weather
A band of rain and summit snow reaching from the west before dawn. A cloudy morning with occasional rain and summit snow. Snow level 900m lowering 700m from mid-afternoon, with conditions gradually improving from the south during the mid to late afternoon as a mix of brighter spells and isolated showers develop.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% increasing 60% by late afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases extensive at 600m at first, before lifting and breaking during the afternoon.
Ground conditions
Date: Wednesday 3 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 09:16 Full report: Todays summit conditions on Helvellyn were quite consistent with yesterdays readings, just slightly cooler with a hint if rime-ice forming on highest exposed rocks and tufts of grass. Snow cover remains the same with nothing that isn't avoidable on all the main routes to the summit including both Striding and Swirral Edges, so currently no requirement for ice axe/crampons/micro-spikes. There is a possibility of change over the next couple of days with snow flurries and hail forecast and a slight further drop in temperature at summit level. The wind-chill is quite significant currently at -9.8 on the summit compared to the valley conditions, so lots of warm layers and winter clothing, hat and gloves and maybe a big spare warm jacket is a good idea to stay comfortable, particularly in exposed areas up high. Temperature: minus 0.1C, Maximum wind speed 26.5mph, Wind chill: minus 9.8C, Average wind speed: 19.5mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Brighter spells and showers through the morning, then an area of occasionally heavy rain develops later in the day. Outbreaks wintry across higher summits. Severe summit gales developing later in the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% for the morning becoming 10% by late afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast increasing 50-55mph with gusts reaching 65mph across most exposed ridges and summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Zero to Plus 1 Celsius
- Valley Plus 2 Celsius increasing to 7 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level 800-900m
Low cloud and visibility
Good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases becoming extensive at 600m by late afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Sat 6 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with occasional rain, heavier and more persistent early in the day. Moderate southeast summit winds. Freezing level above summits.
Sun 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rather cloudy with occasional rain, heavier and more persistent late morning and early afternoon. Winds veering to the southwest and strengthening. Freezing level above summits.
Mon 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry and occasionally bright, but risk rain at times early and late in the day. Moderate to fresh southwest 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.