Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather for the next few days. Low for timing of clearance of rain on Wednesday and Friday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cloudy and windy with occasional rain. Hill fog down to 700 to 900 metres. Strong to gale southerly summit winds.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard 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.

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.
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 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.

hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

Windy with rain at times, drier later

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Cloudy Heavy rain Heavy rain Cloudy Sunny intervals Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 40% 30% 30% >95% 30% 30% 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 S
38
S
35
S
34
S
35
S
39
S
34
S
38
S
41
600m S
28
S
27
S
25
S
28
S
30
S
27
S
29
S
31
300m S
12
S
10
S
10
S
13
S
15
S
13
S
15
S
15
Valley SE
12
S
11
S
11
S
12
S
14
S
13
S
15
S
16
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 47 44 43 44 50 43 48 53
600m 40 37 34 38 42 37 41 45
300m 30 27 26 31 34 29 33 34
Valley 27 26 26 27 31 26 30 32

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
10°
11°
Valley
11°
11°
11°
12°
12°
11°
11°
Freezing Level
2,300m
2,200m
2,200m
2,000m
1,900m
1,700m
1,400m
1,300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-1°
-2°
-3°
-5°
600m
-1°
300m
Valley
10°
10°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Strong to gale winds at height will make for slow progress and drenching conditions in rain.

Weather

The morning will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, but some drier spells of weather too. Rain will turn heavy and more persistent for a time around the middle of the day before clearing by mid-afternoon. Then the rest of the day will see variable amounts of cloud with the chance of a few passing showers.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50%, best change in the afternoon

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 600 to 900 metres, lowest bases across Western Fells. Cloud tending to break and lift somewhat in the early afternoon, but more widely from late afternoon.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Variable amounts of cloud with some sunny intervals. Mainly dry but a chance of the odd passing shower. Windy at height with early summit gales.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwesterly average speeds 35 mph gust 50 mph at first, easing to average speeds of 25 mph by afternoon

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 6 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 6 rising to 14 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above summits

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with patchy cloud around 750 metres at first, this rising above the summits by late morning

Mountain weather information

Fri 17 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with occasional rain for most of the day, drier weather spreading from the west by evening. Strong southwesterly winds.

Sat 18 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy with occasional showers, these may be wintry on the very highest tops. Strong, cold westerly summit winds.

Sun 19 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Chance of a few light showers at first otherwise dry and cold with variable amounts of cloud.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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