Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for Wednesday, and for a generally unsettled rest of the week. Some uncertainty in the position of heavy rain and strength of winds on Thursday, and for position of rain bands over the weekend.
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.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
Mountain weather forecast
Persistent, often heavy rain. Severe gales across the tops.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
60% | 80% | 90% | 60% | 90% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
S
55
|
S
52
|
S
50
|
S
49
|
S
49
|
SW
24
|
| 600m |
S
44
|
S
43
|
S
37
|
S
37
|
S
35
|
SW
17
|
| 300m |
S
13
|
S
14
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
10
|
SW
5
|
| Valley |
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
9
|
S
10
|
S
12
|
SW
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 64 | 62 | 60 | 59 | 59 | 29 |
| 600m | 58 | 56 | 49 | 50 | 48 | 24 |
| 300m | 40 | 40 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 19 |
| Valley | 35 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 15 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,500m
|
2,400m
|
2,200m
|
2,100m
|
1,600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-7°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Difficult mountain conditions with severe gales giving a high risk of being blown over. Combined with heavy rain, this will enhance the wind chill. High watercourses will make river crossings hazardous, perhaps impassable.
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Rain persisting for much of the day, often heavy. A spell of persistent heavy rain in the evening, easing towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%.
Low cloud and visibility
Mostly poor or very poor visibility with cloud persistent for much of the day above 400m, often to lower levels across the southern Fells, but nearer 700m across the northern Fells. Visibility falling to a few km at low levels in any heavier rain.
Ground conditions
Date: Tuesday 16 December Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:30 Temperature: plus 0.4 deg C Maximum wind speed 17.6mph Wind chill: minus 7.2 deg C Average wind speed: 15.7mph Full report: A day of mixed fortunes for those in the valleys with a cloud inversion ebbing to and fro giving a damp and grey day for many with temperatures hovering around 2 C. Above this the fells were bathed in sunlight on a spectacular clear and cold day. After an overnight freeze small areas of rime ice, pipkrake crystals and even some water ice were evident above 850m especially on shaded northern aspects. The rock on Striding and Swirral Edges was bone dry and grippy in the sunshine but treacherously slippery in the shade. The is currently no snow in the Lake District apart from a very few isolated patches which won't cause any issue for walkers The weather is forecast to dramatically change tomorrow morning with the arrival of the next band of heavy rain and strong winds. Please go well equipped for your adventure and make good decisions.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly dry through the early hours and much of the morning, but with persistent hill fog, and perhaps a few light showers. Outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain spreads north from around midday, clearing late evening to leave a few scattered showers, some clear spells across the northern Fells.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 25 gusting 30 mph increasing to 50 gusting 40 mph by the afternoon. Becoming Southwest in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 or 4 Celsius, falling to plus 1 Celsius late evening.
- Valley Plus 5 Celsius rising to 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above the summits, falling to 800m towards midnight.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally poor or very poor visibility on the tops with cloud persistent above around 400m, occasionally to lower slopes in the south. Cloud more broken up above 600m across the northern Fells.
Mountain weather information
Fri 19 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A breezy, mostly cloudy day with scattered showers, most frequent across western Fells. Fresh to strong southwest winds. Freezing level just above the summits.
Sat 20 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry cloudy start. Rain will soon spreads east. Fresh south or southwest winds. Freezing level above the summits.
Sun 21 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A generally cloudy day with hill fog and patchy rain at times. Moderate generally east or southeast winds. Freezing level remaining above the 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.