Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for generally mild and occasionally unsettled weather. Lowering confidence for the timing detail of the worst of the conditions.
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
Early rain then fair from mid-morning. Winds increasing fresh to strong for the afternoon.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
60% | 10% | 00% | <05% | 10% | 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 |
W
13
|
W
11
|
SW
19
|
SW
22
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
| 600m |
W
10
|
W
11
|
SW
14
|
SW
18
|
SW
23
|
SW
22
|
| 300m |
W
2
|
W
3
|
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
| Valley |
W
2
|
W
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
SW
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 15 | 14 | 23 | 27 | 32 | 33 |
| 600m | 12 | 15 | 17 | 25 | 32 | 31 |
| 300m | 10 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 23 |
| Valley | 10 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 21 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
5°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
7°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
900m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Severe wind chill at height increasing later as winds strengthen.
Weather
Overnight rain clearing early to mid-morning to leave largely dry and bright conditions late morning and through the afternoon. Some limited showers developing during the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
25% at dawn, 80% from noon
Low cloud and visibility
Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in early rain or later showers, very poor within cloud, which will be quite extensive at 600m around dawn, then lifted and well broken from late morning.
Ground conditions
Date: Thursday 11 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:30 Full report: A dry but very gusty day on the Lake District fells. There was still plenty of evidence of the passage of Storm Bram but generally streams and rivers were dropping and it was fairly pleasant where sheltered from the wind. The main challenge of the day was this gusty wind which was being accelerated by the landscape and through cols even at lower elevations. Gusts over over 50mph were recorded at Red Tarn which were significantly higher than todays summit readings. Alongside your normal warm and waterproof layers, hats and gloves some form of eye protection was useful today. For people out and about enjoying the mountain weather high winds will increase your energy expenditure as you have to constantly brace and react to the gusts. There is also an increased faff factor and everything will take a lot longer from navigating to changing your gloves. Interestingly many people also become irritated and frustrated in these conditions so please make allowances for your friends! Temperature: plus 2.4C, Maximum wind speed 43.5mph, Wind chill: minus 7.0C, Average wind speed: 36.7mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Fair conditions for the morning, then cloud and eventually rain reaching from the west later in the day, as southwesterly summit gales develop.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80% becoming 50% by noon then 15% late afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest increasing mean 40-45mph by mid-afternoon with gusts reaching 50-55mph across more exposed ridges and summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 Celsius
- Valley Plus 4 Celsius increasing 10 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases becoming quite extensive from 600m by late afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Sun 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Periods of occasionally heavy rain, clearing for a time late in the day. Strong to gale summit winds. Freezing level above all summits.
Mon 15 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Further occasionally heavy rain. Strong summit winds. Freezing level above all summits.
Tue 16 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry spells and showers, and limited brighter spells. Fresh summit winds. Freezing level above all summits.
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.