Mountain weather

Lake District

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Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Extremely cold conditions continuing, the Lake District will see a lot of bright and dry conditions with weak winter sunshine but extremely cold with air temperatures rarely rising above freezing at low levels. Winds will often be fresh or strong with significant windchill expected.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Clear spells developing, cloud may gather with the risk of a few wintry showers later in the evening, severe windchill effect in strong northwesterly 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 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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

A dry and bright day but bitterly cold with strong northwesterly winds.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Partly cloudy (night) Clear night Clear night Sunny day Sunny day Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05% <05%

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 NW
34
 NW
34
 NW
36
 NW
36
 NW
34
 NW
29
 NW
30
 NW
31
600m NW
24
 NW
24
 NW
23
 NW
24
 NW
23
 NW
20
 NW
21
 NW
20
300m NW
9
 NW
9
 NW
8
 NW
10
 NW
11
 NW
9
 NW
9
 NW
9
Valley NW
7
 NW
8
 NW
8
 NW
9
 NW
11
 NW
10
 NW
11
 NW
10
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 42 42 43 44 42 36 37 40
600m 33 34 33 34 32 29 30 30
300m 29 30 29 31 30 26 26 27
Valley 25 27 27 29 28 25 27 27

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-5°
-6°
-7°
-7°
-6°
-6°
-7°
-7°
600m
-3°
-3°
-5°
-5°
-3°
-3°
-4°
-5°
300m
0°
-1°
-2°
-2°
0°
-1°
-2°
-3°
Valley
2°
2°
0°
1°
2°
2°
1°
0°
Freezing Level
100m
0m
0m
0m
0m
0m
0m
0m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-16°
-16°
-18°
-18°
-16°
-15°
-17°
-18°
600m
-11°
-12°
-13°
-13°
-12°
-11°
-12°
-13°
300m
-4°
-6°
-7°
-7°
-5°
-5°
-7°
-8°
Valley
0°
-2°
-3°
-4°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-4°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Severe wind chill in strong northwesterly winds. Risk of ice and frost on paths and access roads and full winter conditions are to be expected on the fells on Friday.

Weather

Mostly dry overnight with clear spells and a severe frost. A dry day with lots of winter sunshine but very cold with severe chill effect in the strong northwesterly winds. Temperatures unlikely to rise above Zero Celsius at low levels so very cold on the fells.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90%, some patches of lower cloud.

Low cloud and visibility

Generally very good visibility with good clarity and far reaching views, some patchy cloud above 700m but generally any cloud well above summits.

Ground conditions

Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:37 Full report: Happy New Year from the FTA Team! With a fresh dusting of snow above 750m on top of the existing ice and frost build-up from past days, the high fells currently are very much in winter condition. The ice that is underlying the frost/snow layer was causing many to move very cautiously today and I met many people who had wisely turned back from the upper parts of Swirral Edge as they didn't feel comfortable without micro-spikes or crampons in the current conditions. Due to the thin covering of snow, micro-spikes would be ideal, and an axe or walking pole for support may also be very welcome in the gusty wind conditions. These ground conditions will continue over the coming days and will be similar across the district, routes with exposed ridge sections or 'steeps' will require particular caution. In addition to this, full winter clothing, hat and gloves and everything else required to stay comfortable in cold winter conditions is required for safe and enjoyable travel.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cold conditions continuing into the weekend with some weak winter sunshine not having much effect on the air temperature. Bright and dry through the day but strong northwesterly winds continuing.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90%, patchy cloud only.

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwesterly 20 gust 30mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 6 Celsius.
  • Valley Minus 3 Celsius rising to Zero Celsius.
  • Freezing level Surface Level

Low cloud and visibility

Some patchy cloud above 700m in the morning but most summits clear with excellent visibility around the Lake District.

Mountain weather information

Sun 4 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Clear, cold conditions overnight and a bright and sunny day but remaining very cold with fresh northwesterly winds. Freezing at all levels.

Mon 5 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Continuing with cold but settled conditions, mostly dry with fresh northwesterly winds,

Tue 6 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A little cloudier than previous days with the risk of a few wintry showers, northerly winds continuing.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.

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