Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable weather for the next few days. Low for daily detail of precipitation.
This evening forecast
Dry with variable amounts of cloud and light winds.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry with variable cloud cover. Cold summit winds.
| 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) |
00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% |
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 |
SE
21
|
SE
26
|
SE
27
|
SE
34
|
SE
34
|
SE
35
|
SE
37
|
SE
38
|
| 600m |
SE
16
|
SE
23
|
SE
22
|
SE
27
|
SE
25
|
SE
27
|
SE
29
|
SE
28
|
| 300m |
SE
5
|
SE
6
|
SE
5
|
SE
9
|
SE
10
|
SE
9
|
SE
7
|
SE
9
|
| Valley |
E
2
|
SE
5
|
E
6
|
E
8
|
SE
10
|
SE
10
|
E
9
|
E
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 | 26 | 33 | 34 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 49 |
| 600m | 24 | 34 | 32 | 39 | 36 | 40 | 43 | 42 |
| 300m | 16 | 20 | 19 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 29 |
| Valley | 12 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
700m
|
700m
|
600m
|
600m
|
500m
|
400m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Southeasterly winds will strengthen through the afternoon leading to significant wind chill.
Weather
A lot of cloud through the day although some breaks in the cloud sheet are likely across the west and north of the Park, more especially in the morning. All ranges will be dry.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60%
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 700 to 900 metres shrouding some of the higher tops, more especially across the south and east of the Park
Ground conditions
Location: Helvellyn summit at 13:05. Temperature: plus 1.5degC. Maximum wind speed 7.0mph. Wind chill: minus 2.2degC. Average wind speed: 3.3mph. Full report: Just a day after the wild conditions brought by storm Chandra, the Lakeland Fells saw one of the nicest and most settled winter days of the season. Today Helvellyn was basking in sunshine with blue skies, low humidity and very low winds. Yesterdays fresh snow has remained in large swathes especially on the West side of the mountain, the path from Swirls leading through the 'steep' on Brown Cove Crags for example, is snowed through the steep ground and then continuously to the summit. Both Striding and Swirral Edges are snowed for their length, and the Headwall area was providing fun for many today on good snow-ice (neve). The fresh wind-blown snow noted yesterday extending down many West facing slopes and river beds/gullies has transformed from the dry wind-blown snow reported to actually quite stable, and in places well consolidated snow, a brief rise in temperatures yesterday afternoon, and possibly sleet/wet snow to summit level then followed by colder temperatures into this morning has seen a rapid transformation of the new snow. So whilst the snow is not giving any major avalanche threat, it is covering all routes to the summit, so micro-spikes will be a good idea on most routes, and on anything steep or where actively seeking steep snow (the Headwall) then crampons and an ice axe are essential, the hard snow-ice developing on many slopes is quite consequential in the event of a fall and often runs out into scree/boulder fields. With a return to more wintery conditions over the next couple of days, it remains essential to carry full winter equipment, warm layers, hat and gloves and navigational equipment. Brilliant to see lots of people out today enjoying the perfect winter day on Helvellyn.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Outbreaks of snow will spread northeast across all ranges during the early hours. Drier weather will then spread from the southwest during the early afternoon to leave the rest of the day dry.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance across the northwest in the afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly average speeds 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph in the higher tops
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 rising to 2 Celsius
- Valley 0 rising to 5 Celsius
- Freezing level 400 metres, rising to 1000 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread cloud down to 500 to 800 metres in the morning, but cloud breaks across the northwest of the Park at times throughout the day. Cloud generally becoming more broken down to 800 metres in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Sat 31 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with best of the cloud breaks towards the west of the Park.
Sun 1 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with variable cloud cover.
Mon 2 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Little change, remaining generally dry with some cloud breaks.
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.