Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high overall for Sunday and Monday, but becoming moderate to low regarding timings and details of rain through the week.
This evening forecast
Cloudy and windy with persistent rain.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
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
Some brightness in the morning, with showers during the afternoon.
| 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) |
70% | 50% | 20% | 30% | 20% | 30% | 60% | 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 |
SW
39
|
SW
31
|
SW
34
|
SW
37
|
SW
39
|
SW
38
|
SW
39
|
SW
36
|
| 600m |
SW
23
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
SW
31
|
SW
33
|
SW
31
|
SW
29
|
SW
28
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
SW
13
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
SW
10
|
SW
12
|
| Valley |
SW
6
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
SW
13
|
SW
9
|
SW
12
|
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 | 46 | 38 | 41 | 46 | 50 | 48 | 49 | 46 |
| 600m | 30 | 36 | 36 | 41 | 45 | 42 | 41 | 40 |
| 300m | 26 | 28 | 28 | 33 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 32 |
| Valley | 23 | 23 | 24 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 26 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,900m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Likelihood of gales along the tops combined with afternoon showers, giving a risk of severe wind chill. Hence ensure to pack the waterproofs and warm layers.
Weather
Rain in the early hours will soon clear, though low cloud will linger over the hills for much of the morning, especially on western slopes. This will gradually lift and break towards midday, allowing some brighter spells to develop. Showers will then move across the region through the afternoon and evening, with a slight risk of isolated rumbles of thunder in the heaviest bursts. These will persist into the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% overnight, becoming 40% during morning in the west and 60% in the east.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive low cloud down to 300-400 metres - perhaps lower across western peaks - will bring widespread very poor visibility during the early hours. This will gradually lift through the morning, with cloud bases rising to around 600-700 metres, mostly covering the higher fells in the west with more in the way of breaks in the east. Away from cloud, visibility will become generally good or very good. Cloud bases and visibility may lower again in and around showers.
Ground conditions
Date: Saturday 21 February Location: Helvellyn summit at 15:22. Temperature: plus 3.6 C. Maximum wind speed 29.1mph. Wind chill: minus 4.0C. Average wind speed: 23.7mph Full report: The thaw continues through to summit level across the Lakeland fells, bands of rain and a moderate wind making conditions quite uncomfortable where exposed. The remaining snow and ice is still extensive on all routes to the summit of Helvellyn, it is starting to recede and strip away on the more thinly covered areas but in terms of planning, its still full winter up top. The thawing snow has left large waterlogged and slushy areas on the plateau, mixed with some harder old snow and areas also snow free, so a constantly changing picture. In areas where the fresher, now saturated snow, overlays hard old snow, care is need not the slip with a build up under foot. Crampons and an ice axe would still be advisable on all exposed and steeper routes, and micro-spikes on the walking approaches from the Thirlmere side may suffice. Soft cornices are still present around most of the summit plateau edges on the N-E sides of the mountain and care should be taken not to venture out on to these. Once again, the temperatures are above freezing and it feels generally quite damp through to summit level, however the wind-chill is in the minuses meaning good quality waterproofs, warm layers, hat, gloves and cold weather gear is essential for comfortable travel, in addition to this a group shelter remains a vital piece of safety kit to have in the bag. Tomorrow looks a similar sort of day with slightly higher winds, so pack all the essentials, and prepare for a variety of underfoot conditions on the mountain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain during the morning. More persistent rain, along with low cloud developing into the afternoon and lasting through the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% initially, best breaks further east, widely falling to 10% during the afternoon and into the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or southwest with mean speeds around 25-30mph, with gusts of 40-45mph on the summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2-3 Celsius
- Valley Plus 6-8 Celsius
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud may linger around 600-700 metres through the morning, especially in the western areas of the park, visibility outside of cloud is generally good or very good. During the afternoon, conditions will deteriorate widely across the park, with cloud lowering to 300-400 metres. Visibility will become moderate or poor in rain, and very low within low cloud.
Mountain weather information
Tue 24 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy with patchy drizzle but some brightness at times. Windy on the tops but mild with freezing levels above summits.
Wed 25 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain for much of the day. Less windy than previous days and remaining mild, with freezing levels above summits.
Thu 26 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining mostly cloudy with some patchy light rain or drizzle. Winds moderate to fresh and remaining mild, with freezing levels 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.