Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for dry weather during the day on New Year's Eve but lower confidence in cloud details. High for a change to very cold conditions for the New Year which may last well into January.
This evening forecast
Dry with clear skies and light northerly winds. Widespread frost developing.
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
Sunny morning then cloudier afternoon. Bitterly cold winds at height.
| 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) |
00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 10% | 10% | 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 |
N
6
|
NW
10
|
NW
15
|
NW
17
|
NW
22
|
W
19
|
W
21
|
W
29
|
| 600m |
NW
6
|
NW
7
|
NW
12
|
NW
14
|
W
16
|
W
15
|
W
18
|
W
23
|
| 300m |
NW
3
|
NW
5
|
NW
7
|
NW
7
|
NW
7
|
W
7
|
W
8
|
W
11
|
| Valley |
N
4
|
NW
3
|
NW
4
|
NW
4
|
W
8
|
W
9
|
W
10
|
W
14
|
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 | 9 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 37 |
| 600m | 9 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 34 |
| 300m | 7 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 27 |
| Valley | 6 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
100m
|
100m
|
200m
|
500m
|
600m
|
600m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Valley |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Feeling bitterly cold with a severe wind chill on the tops so full winter clothing will be required.
Weather
A clear night with widespread frost and patchy freezing fog which may linger through the morning. Otherwise a dry day with plenty of crisp winter sunshine but becoming cloudier from the west during the afternoon. A cloudy evening with strengthening winds and outbreaks of light rain, falling as snow above 500m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% in the morning becoming 60% in afternoon with best chance in east.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility in the morning but some patchy freezing fog in the valleys. Remaining mostly good through the afternoon but some patchy cloud developing above 600m, mainly in the west. This cloud becoming more widespread in the evening.
Ground conditions
Date: Tuesday 30 December 2025. Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:30. Full report: A very busy day on Helvellyn with plenty of walkers enjoying the freezing conditions but unfortunately not many views with the cloud base sitting at around 800m. Other areas of the National Park looked to have less cloud cover. Above 650m there was a scattering of new snow and some patches of water ice but of more concern were large areas of verglas (black ice) which were coating many rocks and the pitched paths. Areas such as the Helvellyn edges and Swirls Steep on the popular Swirls path were in serious condition and microspikes were very useful and definitely safer. Plenty of folk took small tumbles and slides today and bottom sliding was sometimes the preferred (if not recommended) method of movement without the extra grip provided by a set of microspikes. The exit slopes to Swirral Edge were particularly challenging and a slip here could result in a long tumbling fall through boulders. Once above 850m most of the terrain was covered in rime (ice feathers which grow into the wind) giving a very wintery experience. Visibility was poor in the cloud and navigation challenging. Please ensure you know which car park you left your car in as it makes it a lot easier to navigate back to or when asking for help. Wednesday has a very similar forecast although with significantly stronger winds which will lower the wind chill well below today's bitter -11 C. Please continue to carry plenty of warm and windproof clothing, hats and gloves and remember your headtorch as the sun still sets before 4pm. Temperature: minus 2.9 C, Maximum wind speed 20.7 mph, Wind chill: minus 11.9 C, Average wind speed: 16.6 mph.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Showers overnight, falling as snow above 600m, these clearing around dawn. A dry and bright day with sunny spells but feeling bitterly cold with a severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% overnight, becoming 90% by morning.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 25 to 30mph gusts 45mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0C overnight falling to Minus 3C.
- Valley Plus 3C rising to 5C, falling to 0C in evening.
- Freezing level 800m falling to 400m by morning, then valley level in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly excellent visibility during daytime with any cloud remaining above the tops. Extensive cloud above 600m overnight, clearing by dawn.
Mountain weather information
Fri 2 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A bitterly cold day but remaining dry with plenty of winter sunshine. Strong northwest winds on the tops. Ground frozen to valley level.
Sat 3 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another bitterly cold day but remaining dry with plenty of winter sunshine. Strong northwest winds on the tops. Ground frozen to valley level.
Sun 4 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining mostly dry and bright and very cold with strong northwest winds on the tops. A small chance of some snow showers.
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.