Mountain weather

Lake District

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Yellow warning

Yellow weather warning in force for Lake District

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Confidence high for a mainly southeasterly airstream to persists with low pressure to the west of the United Kingdom, but lower for precipitation and cloud details. Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Clear spells and a few showers, these increasingly wintry above about 750m. Strong southerly winds with a significant chill effect.

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.

hazard 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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Clear or sunny spells and a few wintry showers. Strengthening winds

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 10% 10% 10% 20% 20% 10% 10% 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
29
 SE
17
 SE
12
 SE
13
 SE
15
 SE
18
 SE
20
 SE
23
600m S
25
 SE
16
 S
9
 SE
10
 SE
13
 SE
12
 SE
16
 SE
19
300m S
7
 S
4
 SE
4
 SE
4
 SE
5
 SE
5
 SE
6
 SE
7
Valley S
8
 SE
5
 E
4
 E
3
 E
4
 E
4
 E
5
 E
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 36 22 15 16 20 23 26 29
600m 35 23 13 14 19 18 24 28
300m 23 14 10 10 12 13 17 20
Valley 23 15 10 9 9 11 15 17

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
-1°
-2°
600m
2°
1°
1°
1°
2°
2°
0°
0°
300m
4°
3°
2°
2°
5°
5°
3°
2°
Valley
6°
5°
4°
4°
6°
7°
5°
4°
Freezing Level
900m
800m
800m
800m
800m
800m
600m
600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-8°
-6°
-6°
-5°
-6°
-6°
-8°
-9°
600m
-5°
-5°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-5°
-7°
300m
1°
1°
0°
0°
3°
3°
0°
-1°
Valley
3°
3°
2°
3°
5°
6°
3°
2°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Risk of icy surfaces at all levels at first on Wednesday morning.

Weather

Clear spells through the early hours with one or two, mainly light, showers around, these increasingly wintry above about 750m. Then a bright day with sunny spells and the odd, mainly light, shower around, these wintry above about 750m through the morning but lowering to 500m through the afternoon and evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Around 75%.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional cloud above about 600-750m through much of the day. Away from cloud visibility generally very good falling briefly to a kilometre or two in summit snow showers.

Ground conditions

Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026. Location: Helvellyn summit at 10:10 Full report: Storm Chandra was certainly making its presence known through the night and today across the Lakeland fells. At the time of reporting, very strong gusts and a cold wind-chill started to affect progress from Red Tarn and above, as well as a few inches (approximately 3) of fresh snow under foot, this was lying as slush and wet snow below 700m, but above this height was increasingly dry and being moved around by the wind (wind transported snow), this blasting effect meant goggles where needed from here to summit level and visibility was constantly variable, at times it was full white-out conditions. The additional risk caused by the wind moving this dry snow around the mountain is that significant accumulations were building at Red Tarn in hollows, depressions and behind obstructions (cross-loading) despite this aspect being scoured to some degree, however on downwind aspects (W-NW-N) there will be significant accumulations building of this newly blown dry snow, mainly above about 800m, and particularly where it overlies harder old snow and is on a gradient above 30 degrees, there will be an avalanche threat (wind-slab). These slopes above 800m and from W-N aspects, and where accumulations look significant, will be worth avoiding until the new snow has a chance to consolidate, we will continue to update on this over the coming days. So Helvellyn, and most of the Lakeland fells above 600m, will now be in winter conditions, all approaches to Helvellyn will be holding snow from 600m upwards and require at least micro-spikes for grip, anywhere steep or exposed (Swirral Edge and Striding Edge), particularly where there is older hard snow below, will need crampons and an ice axe. Full winter equipment, warm layers, hat and gloves, goggles and a bothy shelter are all needed/essential. The visibility today was very limited, and a map and compass and good navigation skills are essential for safe travel and hazard avoidance (cornices/cliff tops). Whilst todays conditions were quite extreme, its amazing to see the Lakeland fells back in full winter condition. Temperature: minus 1.5 deg C. Maximum wind speed 54.1mph. Wind chill: minus 13.8 deg C. Average wind speed: 23.8mph.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A largely dry and bright day, although rather more cloud than Wednesday, with just the odd light shower possible across eastern fells, these increasingly wintry above about 500m. Cloud increasing through the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Around 60%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeasterly 20-25mph, gusts around 40mph over ridges and summits, increasing 30-35mph, gusts around 50mph over ridges and summits, through the afternoon.

Temperature

  • At 800m Around minus 1 Celsius
  • Valley Around zero Celsius at dawn rising to plus 5 or 6 Celsius by day
  • Freezing level Around 600m

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional or periods of cloud above about 600-750m. Away from cloud visibility generally very good falling briefly to a kilometre or two in summit snow showers.

Mountain weather information

Fri 30 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, with snow above about 500m, clearing to clear spells and a few showers later. Strong southeasterly winds easing. Freezing level around 600m rising later.

Sat 31 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Clear or sunny spells and a few showers. Mainly light winds. Freezing level rising above summits.

Sun 1 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy with occasional showers, these dying out later. Strengthening southeasterly winds. Freezing level above the summits.

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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