Mountain weather

Lake District

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Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for a severely cold spell for the Lake District for the first days of 2026, full winter conditions can be expected in the Fells. Uncertainties in amount of wintry showers and strength of wind details for each day.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Partly cloudy but clear spells developing. Strong northeasterly winds and feeling very cold through the evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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 hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

A very cold day out on the fells, otherwise some bright or sunny spells and remaining dry.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Clear night Clear night Mist Sunny intervals Sunny day Sunny day Clear night Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <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 NE
22
 NE
19
 NE
20
 NE
17
 NE
13
 NE
11
 NE
10
 N
7
600m NE
14
 NE
14
 NE
12
 NE
10
 NE
8
 N
7
 NE
6
 N
6
300m NE
7
 NE
7
 NE
5
 NE
4
 N
3
 N
3
 N
3
 N
3
Valley NE
10
 NE
9
 NE
8
 NE
6
 NE
5
 N
5
 NE
6
 N
5
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 27 24 24 21 17 13 13 9
600m 20 20 16 15 12 10 9 8
300m 18 18 15 12 10 8 8 8
Valley 20 17 17 14 10 10 11 9

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-2°
-3°
-3°
-4°
600m
0°
0°
-1°
-1°
0°
-1°
-2°
-2°
300m
1°
1°
0°
0°
2°
1°
0°
-1°
Valley
4°
3°
3°
2°
4°
4°
3°
2°
Freezing Level
500m
400m
300m
300m
400m
400m
300m
300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-9°
-9°
-9°
-9°
-8°
-8°
-8°
-8°
600m
-5°
-6°
-6°
-6°
-4°
-4°
-5°
-5°
300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
0°
0°
-2°
-3°
Valley
0°
0°
0°
0°
2°
2°
0°
0°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

The main hazard on the fells will be the effects of the cold at height and the added effect of the northeasterly winds. Prepare for very cold conditions.

Weather

A cold overnight period with clear spells and a sharp frost. Tuesday will be a dry and bright day with sunny spells throughout the day, any early morning mist will soon clear. Feeling very cold with the sunshine adding very little warmth, a severe windchill is expected and this will be bitterly cold on the fell tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

95%, a few early morning patches of cloud.

Low cloud and visibility

Any cloud will be well above summits leaving a clear day with far reaching views from the hills, visibility will be very good, perhaps dipping moderate in any morning mist.

Ground conditions

Date: Monday 29 December 2025. Location: Blencathra summit at 12:45 Full report: A slightly warmer but overcast day across the Lake District today. It was still feeling wintery above the cloudline at 700m where there is a good covering of rime where the cold damp airstream is freezing onto any exposed surfaces. Below this altitude a slow thaw is taking place although there are plenty of patches of water ice, pipcrake crystals and frozen terrain hanging in there thanks to a bitter east wind that was giving nearly minus -11 C of windchill. Generally the grip underfoot is good, however there have been a number of mountain rescue call outs in the last few days for simple slips so carrying microspikes in the current conditions would be a very sensible addition to your walking kit. Sunset is at 3.56pm so don't forget the headtorch. Temperature: minus 1.9 C, Maximum wind speed 21.1 mph, Wind chill: minus 10.7 C, Average wind speed: 18.9 mph

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

the last day of the year will be another very cold one with some sunny spells but also dull at times as cloud gathers in the afternoon. Strong northwesterly winds will significantly add to the cold effect.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80% some cloud forming around the tops in the afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwesterly 20-25mph with gusts 30-35mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 5 rising to Minus 1 Celsius.
  • Valley Minus 4 rising to Plus 3 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 200m rising to 600m.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud mostly above the summits in the morning but patchy or scattered low cloud will form in the afternoon near fell tops, reducing visibility for a time.

Mountain weather information

Thu 1 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A bitterly cold day with strong northwesterly winds, possible gales above 500m, some wintry showers are possible but also some brighter spells. Snow accumulations are likely. Freezing level 400m falling to surface level.

Fri 2 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining very cold with some bright or sunny spells and a severe wind chill in strong northwesterly winds. Freezing level at surface level.

Sat 3 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Freezing conditions continue with severe windchill in the northerly winds, risk of wintry showers. Freezing level at surface level.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.

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