Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High
This evening forecast
Heavy rain and gale or severe southerly gales at height.
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.
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 and showers, wintry over the summits. Windy and cold.
| 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) |
30% | 30% | 50% | 40% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% |
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
41
|
SW
41
|
SW
39
|
W
38
|
W
37
|
W
34
|
SW
36
|
SW
40
|
| 600m |
SW
33
|
SW
32
|
SW
31
|
W
31
|
W
31
|
W
29
|
SW
27
|
SW
30
|
| 300m |
SW
12
|
SW
13
|
SW
13
|
W
14
|
W
15
|
W
14
|
SW
11
|
SW
13
|
| Valley |
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
SW
14
|
W
16
|
W
16
|
W
15
|
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
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 | 52 | 52 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 44 | 46 | 51 |
| 600m | 44 | 43 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 40 | 39 | 42 |
| 300m | 35 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 33 | 31 | 34 |
| Valley | 32 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 33 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
3°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Note summit gales and severe wind chill.
Weather
Cloudy or bright with showers, the showers heavy at times and wintry over the summits. Summit gales with a severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, but lowering significantly in showers.
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud mainly near or above the summits, lowering significantly in showers. Visibility mostly very good or excellent, but moderate to very poor in showers and cloud.
Ground conditions
Date Tuesday 10 March. Location Helvellyn summit at 09:43. Temperature plus 1.0degC. Maximum wind speed 33.7mph. Wind chill minus 8.0degC. Average wind speed: 24.5mph Full report Damp with a moderate breeze on Helvellyn at the time of the readings, however the wind is forecast to increase through the day and the temperatures to drop slightly into tomorrow with the freeze-line at 900m. Despite temperatures being above freezing through to summit level, the general mountain conditions remain quite challenging with windy, damp conditions, low visibility, and a cool wind-chill where exposed, so good quality waterproofs and warm layers remain essential for comfort and safe travel, as well as navigational equipment and a group shelter. Specific winter equipment such as crampons and an ice axe, are currently not required on any routes, with small isolated fragments of snow only remaining on N-E facing corrie rims and gully heads and all avoidable. With temperatures forecast to freeze to just below summit level over the next couple of days, it will be worth watching for verglas (black ice) forming on exposed damp rock and there is also snow/hail showers forecast above 700m, so micro-spikes might be a good precaution if heading up high in case conditions change back to being more wintery underfoot again. This is an automated email. If you need a response please email [email protected]
Mountain weather information
Weather
Patchy rain or showers overnight, then outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain during daylight hours, perhaps thundery at times. Stormy at height with severe wind chill and buffeting. Turning more showery in the evening, any showers turning to snow over the summits.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% rising to 60% in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 50mph gusting 70mph or more, severe wind chilly and buffeting.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 Celsius, falling Minus 1 Celsius later
- Valley Plus 4 to 9 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits, later falling to 700m.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive low cloud, base 400 to 700m, lifting and breaking during the evening. Visibility mostly moderate to very poor, becoming generally good or very good in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Fri 13 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and wintry showers, the showers possibly merging at times into longer periods or rain and summit snow. Strong west or southwest winds at height with a severe wind chill. Freezing level typically 600m, but could be lower at times, particularly early in the day.
Sat 14 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
The wintry showers well scattered overnight and during the morning with bright or clear spells. The wintry showers then becoming more widespread through the afternoon and evening. Moderate to fresh westerly winds at height with a significant wind chill. Feeling level typically 600 to 800m.
Sun 15 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Occasional rain and summit snow then wintry showers. Strong west or southwest winds with a significant wind chill. Freezing level typically 600 to 800m.
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.