Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Confidence generally high for the next few days but lower for cloud details. There is also some uncertainty in the timing of the rain clearing southeast on Tuesday and for rain arriving later on Thursday.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly cloudy with patchy rain. Light winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 20% | 30% | 60% | 20% | 00% |
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
20
|
SW
19
|
SW
12
|
W
16
|
NW
23
|
N
22
|
| 600m |
SW
15
|
SW
9
|
W
9
|
W
11
|
NW
17
|
N
16
|
| 300m |
SW
4
|
SW
1
|
W
3
|
NW
6
|
NW
8
|
N
5
|
| Valley |
SW
0
|
SW
1
|
W
4
|
W
4
|
NW
7
|
N
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 23 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 27 | 27 |
| 600m | 18 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 24 | 24 |
| 300m | 13 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 19 |
| Valley | 7 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 18 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,800m
|
1,600m
|
1,000m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
6°
|
8°
|
6°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Generally good hillwalking conditions on Sunday morning, but be prepared for some wetter conditions and more extensive low cloud by the afternoon.
Weather
Mainly cloudy with patchy light rain, becoming briefly heavier in the afternoon. Rain clearing late in the day with cloud breaking in the evening, then dry with skies clearing.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60%, becoming 20% by the afternoon, then becoming 100% in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud above 600m, mainly in the southwest. Cloud becoming more extensive above 400 or 500m through the morning, but clearing in the evening. Away from low cloud, visibility mainly good but falling to a few km at times in rain.
Ground conditions
Date: Saturday 21 March. Location: Helvellyn summit at 09:51. Temperature: plus 8.3C. Maximum wind speed 13.2mph. Wind chill: plus 5.8C. Average wind speed: 7.6mph. Full report: Superb Spring conditions on Helvellyn and across the Lakeland fells today, it couldn't be better! Just a few remnants of winter left with a band of snow around the corrie rims on Helvellyn, it's all avoidable with the exception of the upper part of Swirral Edge immediately before the summit plateau where there is an unavoidable patch requiring care. The small amount of remaining snow is quite hard and icy due to the overnight frosts we have seen recently. Something to note is that moving sideways to 'outflank' Swirral Edge's top is not a good idea, the ground is exposed and the remaining snow around the corrie rim is a continuous barrier around the Headwall currently. Tomorrows forecast is showing a change from the last few days with more cloud and some light rain, so prepare for less comfortable fell conditions and remember to have all the normal mountain essentials in the pack for more variable conditions. Great to see so many people out today enjoying the fells at their best.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A clear night with a frost then a dry and bright day with hazy sunny spells. Cloud thickening towards evening with some patchy light rain arriving.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%, becoming 30% in evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 5-10mph increasing Southwest 20 to 25mph gusts 35mph later.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1C rising to 3C.
- Valley Minus 1C rising to 8 or 9C.
- Freezing level 600m rising to 800m, then above summits in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility. Becoming poor at times towards evening with areas of cloud developing above 600m.
Mountain weather information
Tue 24 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, clearing southeast during the afternoon. Colder conditions following with showers, these turning wintry. Strong to gale force southwest winds becoming northwesterly. Freezing level above summits, falling to 700m later.
Wed 25 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A much colder day with some bright spell, but rather frequent sleet or snow showers. Strong northwesterly winds and a severe wind chill. Freezing level 500m.
Thu 26 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Wintry showers dying out overnight then a mainly dry and bright start with lighter winds. Outbreaks of rain and strong winds are likely to spread in from the west in afternoon but some uncertainty in timings.
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.