Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in unsettled conditions continuing but lower confidence in details and timings of rainfall. High confidence for some brighter conditions on Saturday but turning quite wet and windy on Sunday again.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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 weather forecast
Bright spells but the risk of a few showers, feeling cool in fresh northwesterly winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
SW
13
|
N
13
|
N
12
|
N
15
|
N
18
|
N
19
|
| 600m |
W
10
|
NW
9
|
N
10
|
N
12
|
N
13
|
N
12
|
| 300m |
W
2
|
NW
4
|
N
6
|
N
7
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
| Valley |
W
1
|
N
2
|
N
5
|
N
6
|
N
6
|
N
8
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 23 |
| 600m | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
| 300m | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
| Valley | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
900m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A cool feel to the day on Friday with a fresher northwesterly airstream and freezing level lowering towards summit height.
Weather
A largely dry day, quite cloudy but the sun should manage to break through around northern fells, perhaps remaining quite cloudy around the southern hill. Clouding over later in the afternoon with the chance of a few light showers in the evening, these may be wintry on the highest tops. Quite a fresh, cool feel to the day with northwesterly winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, early cloud tending to clear.
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered layers of low cloud above 400m early in the day will lift and clear but a few patches may linger around southern fell tops. Otherwise most cloud will be above the summits. Visibility will be good or very good but may become moderate in any showers later in the day.
Ground conditions
Date: Thursday 26 February: Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:12; Temperature: plus 3.5C; Maximum wind speed 49.0mph; Wind chill: minus 5.5C; Average wind speed: 33.1mph Wet with strong winds on Helvellyn's summit today, and the freeze-line remains above summit level. Challenging conditions today across the Lakeland fells, high winds with strong gusts, wet, and still with a cool wind-chill, so full winter clothing including good quality waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves are still essential for comfortable travel. In addition, other essentials such as a group shelter, map and compass, goggles and a head-torch are all still worth packing. Conditions underfoot are very wet currently, whilst the snow cover has receded significantly in the thaw, there are still many patches dotted around on higher N-E facing slopes, the vast majority of which are avoidable, meaning most routes can be passed without the need for crampons or micro-spikes. That said, on Swirral Edge for example, there are lots of patches of old hard trodden snow and water ice to avoid which could take you by surprise if moving quickly, the Swirls/Thirlmere approach may still have snow in places, particularly around the 'steep'. Tomorrow looks like a slightly more settled day with marginally cooler temperatures creeping in tomorrow evening into Saturday, which currently looks like a fine day to be on the fells. One thing to watch out for is if the freeze-line does drop to around 800m as forecast, old wet snow and melting ice will quickly refreeze, and wet rocky surfaces may quickly become coated in verglas (black-ice) meaning micro-spikes may be required again on some routes, and an axe and crampons for those actively seeking out the remaining strips of steeper snow in areas such as the Helvellyn headwall.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mostly dry day with sunny spells, a few light showers are possible, wintry on the highest peaks, and turning cloudier at times but a fair day for the end of February.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%
Maximum wind speed expected
Northerly 10mph becoming Southwesterly 10-15mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius
- Valley Plus 2 rising to 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level 900m
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy low cloud at times above 600mmay affect summits at times, Visibility generally good or very good out on the fells.
Mountain weather information
Sun 1 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A wet and windy start on Sunday with rain through the morning, a few drier spells possible in the afternoon, strong southwesterly winds expected, possibly summit gales.
Mon 2 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strong westerly winds and periods of rain expected, some uncertainty on timings. Feeling colder on Monday.
Tue 3 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry and bright day is possible with light winds, low confidence.
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.