Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Medium
This evening forecast
Heavy rain and summit gales, becoming drier and clearer. Winds also decreasing and turning into southwest.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy or bright with showers. Windy, summit gales.
| 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% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 50% | 70% | 60% |
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
52
|
SW
46
|
SW
40
|
SW
39
|
SW
37
|
SW
31
|
SW
25
|
SW
27
|
| 600m |
SW
43
|
SW
38
|
SW
33
|
SW
33
|
SW
31
|
SW
26
|
SW
20
|
SW
23
|
| 300m |
SW
17
|
SW
16
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
SW
12
|
SW
8
|
SW
9
|
| Valley |
SW
18
|
SW
17
|
SW
14
|
SW
15
|
SW
15
|
SW
13
|
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
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 | 66 | 59 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 32 | 35 |
| 600m | 59 | 52 | 46 | 46 | 44 | 37 | 28 | 32 |
| 300m | 45 | 40 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 29 | 22 | 23 |
| Valley | 43 | 39 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 21 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Nothing further to add.
Weather
Mainly dry overnight and during the morning with just a scattering of showers. The showers expected to merge into longer outbreaks of rain later in the afternoon and through the evening, heavy at times and perhaps wintry over the highest summits. Windy with summit gales at times along with a significant wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% falling 30% by dusk.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or extensive cloud, base 600 to 900m, occasionally 300 to 600m in rain later in the day. Visibility mostly good or very good, but moderate to very poor in cloud and rain.
Ground conditions
Date: Sunday 11 January 2026. Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:45 Full report: An extremely challenging day on the Lake District fells with deep thawing snow, storm force winds, driving rain and limited visibility. On Helvellyn heavy overnight snow settled down to 200m before a dramatic increase in temperature took the freezing level up to summit height. The new snow has been redistributed onto north through east aspects by storm force SW winds. These lee aspects have a good covering of snow which has drifted up to thigh deep in places giving slow going. Full depth wet snow avalanches may occur on steep slopes in these locations. Unstable cornices have formed above steep slopes on N through E aspects and will be prone to collapse in the current thaw. Swirls Steep on Helvellyn was an unbroken snow slope and the possibility for a long sliding fall exists here and in other locations. On other aspects the wind has scoured the ground back to the rime ice, which has developed over the last few days of sub zero temperatures, giving easier but still slippery going. Microspikes were worn from Swirls car park as the deep thawing snow and areas of resilient ice were incredibly slippery. These were soon exchanged for crampons for the extra traction in the deep wet snow. Goggles were also essential today with spindrift being driven across the Helvellyn plateau on nearly 90mph winds. The snow pack is saturated at all levels and any small decrease in temperature will rapidly refreeze it giving serious conditions in which crampons and an ice axe will be essential for safe travel. The forecast for the next few days continues to be very challenging so please be conservative with your plans. Crampons, microspikes and an ice axe should all be carried if your route takes you onto snow covered terrain. Temperature: minus 0.1 C, Maximum wind speed 86.2 mph, Wind chill: minus 12.3C, Average wind speed: 68.9 mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Outbreaks of heavy rain overnight and during the morning, perhaps wintry over the highest summits. Becoming dry with the cloud lifting and breaking during the afternoon with clear spells in the evening, a touch of frost possible.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% becoming 70% by dusk
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 20 to 25mph turning Northwest 10 to 15mph, significant wind chill at first.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 Celsius falling Minus 1 Celsius later
- Valley Plus 5 to 7Celsius, falling 1 Celsius in the evening.
- Freezing level Above the summits falling 600m or less later
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or extensive low cloud, base 300 to 600m, lifting and breaking near or above the summit through the afternoon. Visibility often moderate to very poor at first, becoming mostly very good later.
Mountain weather information
Wed 14 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry and bright with a frost possible at first. Outbreaks of rain and snow in the evening. Strengthening southerly winds later. Freezing level 400 to 600m, perhaps lower at first.
Thu 15 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Outbreaks of rain and snow soon clearing to wintry showers. Freezing level typically around the summits, but 400 to 600m early and late in the period. Winds mainly moderate from the southwest.
Fri 16 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and bright or clear start. Rain and snow possibly developing later in the day. Freezing level below the summits. Light or moderate south becoming easterly winds.
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.