Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled weather to continue into next week. Low for daily detail.
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.
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 with rain at times, driest in the afternoon
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
50% | 60% | 30% | 40% | 70% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
S
25
|
S
23
|
S
22
|
SE
21
|
SE
26
|
SE
30
|
| 600m |
S
18
|
S
18
|
S
17
|
SE
15
|
SE
18
|
SE
19
|
| 300m |
S
7
|
S
7
|
S
8
|
SE
7
|
SE
6
|
SE
7
|
| Valley |
S
6
|
SE
6
|
SE
7
|
SE
5
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 28 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 36 |
| 600m | 25 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 28 |
| 300m | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 |
| Valley | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 21 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Nothing to add.
Weather
A cloudy day with outbreaks of rain or higher summit sleet, although some drier spells of weather likely to develop in the afternoon. Rain will become more persistent for a time in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance in the afternoon especially across the Northern Fells
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 600 to 900 metres, lowest bases during the morning. Cloud will tend to lift and break through the afternoon with improved visibility
Ground conditions
Date: Sunday 8 February. Location: Helvellyn summit at 14:00: temperature: plus 2.0 deg C, maximum wind speed 24.6mph, wind chill: minus 5.6 deg C, average wind speed: 20.0mph. Full report: A damp and cloudy day on the Lake District fells with the freezing level remaining above the summits overnight and through Sunday. Much of the surviving snowpack to be found above 750m is saturated, thawing and granular. However the areas of neve (older refrozen snow) are proving pretty resilient and are still firm underfoot. Above 800m there was still plenty of ice on the Helvellyn plateau and on popular paths where the snow has been compressed beneath walkers feet. All the rime (ice feathers) which was coating the mountain for the last few days has now thawed. In general north through westerly aspects are still holding more snow due to the easterly winds that have affected the Lakes for the last 3 weeks. Some form of microspikes are still very useful for any route that ventures above the snowline. Striding and Swirral Edges are still covered with soft ice and unconsolidated snow and crampons are still strongly recommended. There is also still a high risk of long slides on steeper or exposed terrain which run out into boulders or scree fields so an ice axe should also be carried to help prevent a simple slip becoming something more serious. Thaw conditions are expected to last for a few days apart from Sunday night when the freezing level will briefly drop below summit level This will rapidly refreeze the snow giving serious conditions for a period before thaw conditions return. Colder conditions are forecast to return from Thursday.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy in the morning with a few light showers otherwise mainly dry. Remaining cloudy through the afternoon with outbreaks of rain and drizzle extending northwards.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance across the west and north of the area
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 15 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 4 Celsius
- Valley Plus 4 rising to 8 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in widespread cloud down to 600 to 900 metres, lowest bases across the Southern and Eastern Fells.
Mountain weather information
Wed 11 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining unsettled with showers or occasionally longer spells of rain.
Thu 12 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with showery rain, perhaps turning to snow on the higher tops later in the day.
Fri 13 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Turning much colder with sleet or snow at first then mainly dry and bright. Strong, cold north or northeasterly 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.