Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Medium

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Rain, heavy at times with lowering cloud. Strong east or southeast winds at height with significant wind chill.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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 weather forecast

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Chilly winds.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Light rain Drizzle Light rain Overcast Overcast Overcast
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
70% 60% 70% 80% 50% 40% 40% 40%

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
20
S
23
S
24
S
21
S
19
S
20
S
19
SE
22
600m S
17
S
19
S
21
S
18
S
17
S
16
S
17
SE
17
300m S
7
S
9
S
10
S
9
S
8
S
8
S
7
SE
7
Valley SE
6
S
8
S
11
S
10
S
9
S
8
SE
6
SE
6
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 25 29 30 27 25 26 25 28
600m 24 27 29 25 24 23 25 25
300m 18 21 23 20 18 19 18 19
Valley 15 18 22 19 17 16 15 15

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
600m
300m
Valley
Freezing Level
1,400m
1,200m
1,200m
1,200m
1,200m
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m

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

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Nothing further to add.

Weather

Outbreaks of rain and drizzle overnight and during the morning. The cloud lifting a breaking a little during the afternoon as the rain turns more showery, the best of any brightness across the Northern and Northwestern Fells. Rather cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% becoming 40% in the afternoon and evening, most likely in the north.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional or extensive low cloud, base 300 to 600m, lifting and breaking at times in the afternoon and evening, cloud near or above the summits at times, particularly in the north. Visibility moderate to very poor in cloud and rain, occasionally good through the afternoon and evening.

Ground conditions

Date: Saturday 7 February Location: Helvellyn summit at 14:00. Temperature: plus 1.5C. Maximum wind speed 20.3mph. Wind chill: minus 5.5C. Average wind speed: 14.6mph Full report: Saturday began with the high Lake District fells in full winter condition. Much of the snowpack froze overnight which helped consolidate the new snow and firmed up the large expanses of neve (snow ice). However as forecast the freezing level rose above the summits this morning resulting in a general thaw at all levels. The snowpack is now saturated throughout and the rime ice covering the rocks and snowpack above 800m is rapidly melting. Much of the slushy snow is overlying slightly firmer neve on which crampons were essential on steep or exposed terrain such as the Helvellyn Edges. There is also still a high risk of long slides which run out into boulders or scree fields so an ice axe should also be carried to help prevent a simple slip becoming something more serious. North through westerly aspects are still holding more snow due to the easterly winds that have affected the Lakes for the last 3 weeks. Walkers on the 'easier' Swirls path reported that microspikes were very useful from below Swirls Steep. Thaw conditions are expected to last for a few days apart from Sunday night when the freezing level will briefly drop below summit level This will rapidly refreeze the snow giving serious conditions for a period before thaw conditions return. Colder conditions are forecast to return from Thursday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Lowering cloud and outbreaks of rain overnight. The cloud tending to lift during the day, but patchy rain or showers at times. A few brighter spells possible later, then mainly dry with some cloud breaks in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% rising to 60% during the afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeast 15 to 20mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2 or 3 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 4 to 8 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above the summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional or extensive low cloud, base 300 to 600m, lifting and breaking at times in the afternoon and evening, cloud near or above the summits at times, particularly in the north. Visibility moderate to very poor in cloud and rain, occasionally good through the afternoon and evening.

Mountain weather information

Tue 10 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Moderate to fresh southeast winds at height. Freezing level above the summits.

Wed 11 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Light or moderate south or southwest winds at height. Freezing level above the summits.

Thu 12 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy with rain or showers, turning to snow over the summits later. Strengthening east or northeast winds later. Freezing level falling to around 600m later.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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