Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
A cold period of weather with potential for snow accumulations and very cold conditions on the Fells. Strong winds will enhance the wind chill for the midweek period, becoming slightly milder towards the weekend. Low confidence in details of the milder air arriving by the weekend. Keep an eye on the most up to date forecasts.
This evening forecast
Showers continuing through the evening, wintry above 800m at first but lowering to 200m later in the evening. Northerly gales will make it feel bitterly cold on the fells with a significant and severe windchill expected and any wet surfaces icing up. White out conditions can be expected at times with blizzards likely. Severe winter conditions expected through the night.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry, bright and sunny conditions expected in daylight hours, strong northerly winds continuing, enhancing the very cold feel. Visibility generally very good in the wintry conditions.
| 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% | 10% | 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 |
N
42
|
N
44
|
N
41
|
N
35
|
N
31
|
N
30
|
N
32
|
N
30
|
| 600m |
N
33
|
N
31
|
N
27
|
N
20
|
N
20
|
N
20
|
N
22
|
N
19
|
| 300m |
N
13
|
N
13
|
N
10
|
N
8
|
N
10
|
N
9
|
N
8
|
N
7
|
| Valley |
N
17
|
N
18
|
N
14
|
N
14
|
N
13
|
N
12
|
N
12
|
N
11
|
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 | 51 | 53 | 49 | 42 | 39 | 37 | 39 | 37 |
| 600m | 44 | 42 | 38 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 28 |
| 300m | 35 | 34 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
| Valley | 40 | 40 | 35 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
100m
|
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 |
-14°
|
-17°
|
-18°
|
-17°
|
-16°
|
-15°
|
-16°
|
-17°
|
| 600m |
-11°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 300m |
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| Valley |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Bitterly cold overnight and for the start to the day, with a significant windchill factor. Freezing level will be near the surface with any snow accumulations likely to stay put, drifting from strong winds overnight snowfalls is possible.
Weather
Snowfall in the early hours will lead to accumulations and drifiting of snow in places and severe wintery conditions overnight, however precipitation will clear and winds will begin to ease during the early hours. Skies will clear towards dawn. During daylight hours dry, bright and sunny conditions can be expected, winds will continue to be strong with a very cold feel to the day, alongside fresh snow accumulations, making conditions quite treacherous. Skies remaining clear into the evening with a severe frost expected and lying snowfall likely to harden.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
95%, early patchy cloud will lift and clear.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud above 600m initially, this will left and clear during the morning with very little cloud cover during daylight hours. Visibility will be good and become excellent at times.
Ground conditions
No recent ground conditions report available.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A severe frost overnight and in the morning and strong north or northwesterly winds continuing. Otherwise becoming a bright and sunny day but some cloudy at times.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
95%, patchy cloud around summits in the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northerly 25 mph gusts 30-35mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 8 rising to Minus 2.
- Valley Minus 3 rising to Plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level Surface level.
Low cloud and visibility
Perhaps some patchy cloud around 800m at times. Very good or excellent visibility expected.
Mountain weather information
Fri 21 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining cold in the northerly airflow, otherwise dry, bright and sunny, light northwesterly winds backing southwesterly later in the day. Freezing level 200m rising to 800m later in the day.
Sat 22 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Southerly winds will introduce slightly milder air and some precipitation, the mix of snow/sleet and rain is uncertain at this time. Freezing level 800m rising to 1100m, low confidence.
Sun 23 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Expected to remain chilly with cloudier conditions and southerly winds, low confidence in the detail for later in the weekend.
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.