Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for mainly dry weather during this period but low confidence in cloud amounts. High for bright, cold and windy conditions in the hills over Christmas.
This evening forecast
Dry with clear spells. Fresh southeast winds on the tops. Freezing level above summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry and mainly cloudy. Mostly light 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) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% |
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 |
E
17
|
E
16
|
E
15
|
E
11
|
E
12
|
E
11
|
E
14
|
E
14
|
| 600m |
E
14
|
E
16
|
E
14
|
E
10
|
E
11
|
E
10
|
E
12
|
E
14
|
| 300m |
E
6
|
E
4
|
E
6
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
E
5
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
| Valley |
NE
4
|
E
4
|
NE
4
|
NE
5
|
N
5
|
NE
5
|
NE
6
|
NE
5
|
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 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 |
| 600m | 20 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 20 |
| 300m | 14 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
| Valley | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
1,800m
|
1,500m
|
1,300m
|
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°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
7°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Generally good hillwalking conditions but feeling rather cold on the tops, especially when any low cloud descends.
Weather
Dry with clear spells in the early hours. Tuesday will be dry with some bright spells and rather a lot of cloud, some fog will affect the higher summits at times. Dry with clear spells in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance in west.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility but occasional cloud on the summits, mainly in the east above 700m.
Ground conditions
Date: Monday 22 December. Location: Blencathra summit (868m) at 12:30. Temperature: plus 5.3C. Maximum wind speed 31.6mph. Wind chill: plus 0.2C. Average wind speed: 13.1mph. Full report: Sunshine, cloudbanks, mild. Widespread sunshine across the Lake District National Park provided favourable walking conditions on the fells today. Banks of cloud drifted in and around the southern and eastern fells, creating a constantly changing and atmospheric backdrop. Wispy Brocken Spectres were visible at times, formed as sunlight shone onto cloud with the observer positioned between the two. Despite the freezing wind chill felt on the summit of Blencathra, the actual freezing level remained well above all Lakeland summits. As a result, no snow remains to impede progress, and paths were largely dry. Tuesday's forecast suggests similar conditions, with light winds and temperatures gradually falling through the day, dipping close to freezing after sunset.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Remaining dry but feeling cold on the tops. Largely cloudy at first then cloud breaking up with lengthening sunny spells developing during the day. Mostly clear skies in the evening with a patchy frost.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% becoming 100%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Easterly 15-20mph gusts 30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0C.
- Valley Plus 6C, falling to Minus 1C in evening.
- Freezing level 800m, falling to 400m in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility. Patchy cloud above 700m at first, soon clearing.
Mountain weather information
Thu 25 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with some sunshine on Christmas day but feeling bitterly cold at height with a severe wind chill. Strong easterly winds 20 to 30mph gusts 40mph. Frost in the valleys then freezing level rising to 800m during daytime.
Fri 26 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with long sunny spells. Strong easterly winds easing. Frost in the valleys then freezing level rising to 800m during daytime.
Sat 27 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining dry with some sunshine but continuing to feel cold with strong easterly winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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.