Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled, often wintry conditions throughout the forecast period, but lower for timings of arrival and clearance of more persistent bands of rain and snow.
This evening forecast
A few early clear spells but cloud soon increasing with patchy rain and drizzle developing, especially over western and southern fells. Strengthening southwesterly winds, gusts around 60mph over ridges and summits by midnight.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Heavy rain spreading south, turning to snow later. Very windy
| 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% | 30% | 40% | >95% | >95% | 90% | 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 |
SW
42
|
SW
49
|
S
52
|
SW
59
|
SW
61
|
SW
46
|
SW
35
|
SW
37
|
| 600m |
SW
35
|
SW
39
|
S
42
|
SW
46
|
SW
48
|
SW
35
|
SW
26
|
SW
28
|
| 300m |
SW
16
|
S
19
|
S
20
|
S
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
19
|
SW
13
|
SW
16
|
| Valley |
SW
18
|
S
20
|
S
23
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
SW
22
|
SW
16
|
SW
20
|
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 | 54 | 63 | 68 | 78 | 80 | 63 | 49 | 51 |
| 600m | 50 | 56 | 59 | 66 | 68 | 54 | 40 | 43 |
| 300m | 38 | 44 | 47 | 53 | 54 | 45 | 34 | 36 |
| Valley | 37 | 41 | 46 | 55 | 56 | 41 | 31 | 37 |
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°
|
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,200m
|
800m
|
700m
|
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°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Increasing winds, gusts around 90mph over higher summits and ridges towards midday, making along with very poor visibility, progress difficult. Warm waterproof clothing essential with significant chill developing at all levels.
Weather
Cloudy with patchy rain, drizzle and a little snow on higher summits, especially for western and southern fells, overnight. Then a cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain becoming more persistent and heavier through the morning. The rain turns increasingly to snow above about 600m through the afternoon, with blizzard conditions possible. Further heavy snow and possible blizzard conditions, through the first half of the evening, with rain mainly below about 450m, the snow becoming lighter and patchier before clearing southeast through the late evening, with clear spells developing.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance in south and west, around 25% in east, improving through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud above about 600-750m, but more occasional at times above 750-900m in the east, lowering to 450-600m, with patches below, in the afternoon, cloud breaking to become occasional above 750m later in evening. Away from cloud, visibility good falling to several kilometres in rain and drizzle and a kilometre or less in heavier snow, and near zero in any blizzards, becoming very good towards midnight.
Ground conditions
Date: Wednesday 11 March. Location: Helvellyn summit at 09:35. Temperature: minus 0.3 deg C. Maximum wind speed 34.3mph. Wind chill: minus 10.3 deg C. Average wind speed: 24.8mph. Full report: Dry and bright with just the summit in cloud today on Helvellyn, cooler though with a notable wind-chill of -10.3. At the time of the readings, the ground conditions remained dry and ice/snow free, the forecast snow/hail showers had not come through. The next couple of days it is forecasting high winds (Met Office - Yellow warning - Thursday), and again snow showers and the freeze-line often being below summit level so expect it to be challenging on the high fells with windy cold conditions, and the possibility of some snow or ice appearing under foot, with this in mind it may be worth packing micro-spikes as a precaution particularly if planning on venturing on to high exposed terrain, such as the Helvellyn edges. Warm layers and good quality waterproofs, hat and gloves, and other winter safety kit remains essential for comfortable travel.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Clear or sunny spells and snow showers. Risk of more persistent snow, falling increasingly as rain below about 600m, developing in the late afternoon and evening, then clearing south later. Drifting or blowing of lying snow is likely in the strong winds, especially over the higher fells.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 75% until mid-afternoon and again later, but falling close to zero in the late afternoon and through until late evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly or southwesterly 30-40mph, gusts around 60mph over ridges and summits, easing in evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Around minus 2 Celsius rising close to zero later
- Valley Around plus 2 or 3 Celsius at dawn rising to plus 6 or 7 Celsius by day
- Freezing level Around 450m rising to 750m through the late afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud above 750m, lowering to 600m at times in showers, but more persistent cloud expected to develop above 450-600m, but 600-750m in east, through the late afternoon and much of the evening. Away from cloud, visibility very good falling to a kilometre or so in snow showers and more persistent snow later, and near zero in drifting or blowing snow.
Mountain weather information
Sat 14 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A few early wintry showers then mainly dry with sunny spells. Cloud increasing through the evening. Occasionally strong westerly winds backing southwesterly and easing. Freezing level around 750m.
Sun 15 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and rain, preceded by snow on higher fells, clearing to sunny spells and blustery wintry showers in afternoon. Strengthening westerly winds, summit gales. Freezing level rising above summits, falling to 600m later.
Mon 16 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early wintry showers dying out some sunny spells developing but cloud and rain spreading east later in day. Strong westerly winds, summit gales, easing. Freezing level 600m, rising just above summits later.
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.