Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for an unsettled weather pattern to affect the United Kingdom with showers or longer spells of rain and strong winds at times. Lower confidence for precipitation detail, especially from Friday.
This evening forecast
Dry with clear spells at first. Becoming cloudy with showers arriving through the evening, perhaps heavy and thundery. Showers falling as sleet or snow above 700m. Cold on the tops with a fresh southerly breeze.
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.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly cloudy with showers, wintry on the tops. Cold and windy 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) |
60% | 40% | 40% | 60% | 60% | 40% | 20% | 20% |
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
21
|
S
24
|
S
29
|
S
32
|
S
28
|
S
28
|
S
29
|
S
33
|
| 600m |
S
17
|
S
21
|
S
25
|
S
26
|
S
24
|
S
24
|
S
24
|
S
27
|
| 300m |
S
7
|
S
9
|
S
10
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
10
|
S
12
|
| Valley |
S
7
|
S
10
|
S
11
|
S
12
|
S
13
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
SE
13
|
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 | 26 | 30 | 35 | 39 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 41 |
| 600m | 23 | 28 | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 37 |
| 300m | 19 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 |
| Valley | 18 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
It will feel much colder on the tops compared to down in the valleys, especially in wintry showers and gusty winds.
Weather
Clear spells and showers overnight. Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with showers, some possibly heavy with a small chance of thunder, and also falling as sleet or snow above 700m. A few bright intervals on northern and eastern fells. Showers dying out through the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chance in north.
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud and fog above 500 or 600m, mainly across southern and central fells, with patches on lower slopes. Cloud more patchy over more northern and eastern fells. Outside of cloud, mostly good visibility, decreasing to a few km at times in showers.
Ground conditions
Date: Tuesday 2 December. Location: Helvellyn summit at 09:40. Temperature: plus 1.0C. Maximum wind speed 28.8mph. Wind chill: minus 7.6C. Average wind speed: 18.3mph. Full report: Today gave slightly drier, cooler and more pleasant conditions on the fells and Helvellyn summit than yesterday. Heavier rain and plus temperatures at summit level yesterday evening washed away much of the lower lying snow, and apart from some scattered fragments, what remains is mainly around cove rims and gully heads on only the highest summits of the range, snow can now be avoided on both Swirral Edge and Striding Edge as well as the other less technical routes to the summit. This said, the temperatures were noticeably cooler today and there was some hail showers and snow flakes blowing about at times, if this starts to lie and accumulate then ground conditions could change. This pattern continues for the next couple of days with the freeze line hovering around summit level and with possible hail or snow/sleet showers so it'll be interesting to see if we get white summits or if its just not quite cool enough and too wet on the ground for it to settle. So whilst crampons/micro spikes/axe weren't necessary today, the lower temperature and wind-chill of -7.6, humidity and moderate wind meant that good winter clothing, hats and gloves, and warm layers were essential to staying comfortable at higher and more exposed levels.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A band of heavy rain, with snow above 800m, will move east overnight and early in the morning. Becoming drier and brighter through the morning with scattered showers, wintry above 400m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% at first, becoming 80%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 30 to 40mph gusts 55mph decreasing Southwest 10 to 15mph during morning.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2C falling to Minus 1C.
- Valley Plus 2C rising to 6C.
- Freezing level Above summits, falling to 700m through the morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud above 500 or 600m overnight and early morning. This soon clearing in the morning with mainly good visibility and patchy summit cloud.
Mountain weather information
Fri 5 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and bright for much of the day and feeling cold. Rain spreads east later afternoon and evening, with a spell of snow. Southerly gales later with blizzards for a time on the summits. Freezing level 600m, rising above summits later.
Sat 6 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain, perhaps some sleet or snow on high summits. Mostly light winds. Freezing level above summits.
Sun 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining unsettled with further rain or showers and a chance of strong winds. Freezing level above 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.