Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for an unsettled and changeable period of weather. Lower for rain or snow detail so please keep updated on the forecast.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk 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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Morning showers then a drier and brighter interlude. Rain, sleet and snow with severe gales later.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
60% | 60% | 30% | 30% | >95% | >95% |
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
22
|
S
28
|
S
41
|
SE
56
|
SE
57
|
SE
54
|
| 600m |
S
23
|
S
27
|
S
34
|
SE
43
|
SE
46
|
SE
41
|
| 300m |
S
5
|
S
9
|
S
13
|
SE
18
|
SE
20
|
SE
19
|
| Valley |
SE
4
|
SE
8
|
SE
11
|
SE
14
|
SE
18
|
SE
18
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 27 | 34 | 49 | 67 | 70 | 66 |
| 600m | 30 | 36 | 44 | 56 | 60 | 54 |
| 300m | 17 | 24 | 34 | 48 | 52 | 46 |
| Valley | 16 | 23 | 29 | 39 | 47 | 42 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
1°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A window of fair conditions during the day but note the quick deterioration late in the day: severe conditions developing in sleet or snow with walking becoming very difficult in severe gales. Good planning required to avoid these conditions.
Weather
A mainly cloudy morning with a few showers, wintry above 700m then a dry and bright start to the afternoon. Cloud and rain will spread northeast from around dusk, heavy at times. There will be a period of sleet or snow above 600m with blizzard conditions on the tops in severe gale force winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% at first becoming 80% early afternoon, then 10% soon after dusk.
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud above 500m at first, this lifting by early afternoon with mostly good visibility expected. However, conditions deteriorate rapidly after dusk with extensive cloud giving poor visibility above 400m.
Ground conditions
Date: Thursday 4 December. Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:31. Temperature: plus 0.9C. Maximum wind speed 32.1mph. Wind chill: minus 9.0C. Average wind speed: 8.9mph. Full report: Today gave some quite challenging conditions again on the high fells and Helvellyn summit. Moderate rain was falling as wet snow above about 750m and was just starting to settle from about 850m, the already saturated ground wasn't helping though and much was melting as it landed. The upper part of Swirral Edge and the summit plateau area felt a lot more wintery today, however it was still definitely more wet than freezing, and as with the past days warm clothing and waterproofs were essential for staying comfortable in the damp conditions combined with a wind-chill of -9.0. The last 50m of Swirral Edge did not require axe or crampons (micro-spikes could be an option though) but was snow covered and in places care was definitely required with fresh snow lying that was not avoidable. Most other main routes on the mountain including Striding Edge, where the difficulties are lower down, were largely unaffected at the time of my round. Looking ahead, this pattern of weather is set to continue through tomorrow with a further drop in the freeze-line to 600-800m, snow may start to build and settle at slightly lower levels over the next 24 hours so plan ahead and consider taking an axe and micro-spikes as a precaution if heading up high tomorrow. Looking at the weekend, the forecast suggests a rise in temperatures again, so much of this fresh snow may well be stripped away again. River levels today were quite high again, and with continuing rain forecast river crossings may require some care.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain or sleet clearing to rain showers overnight, some heavy and possibly thundery. There will be further showers through the day, heavy at times, but also some drier and brighter intervals.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 25mph gusts 35mph overnight, decreasing Southwest 15-20mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1C rising to 4C.
- Valley Plus 5C rising to 9C.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud with bases 500 to 700m giving periods of very poor visibility. Good visibility on lower slopes, occasionally few km in showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry at first then a band of rain will move east across all parts through the day accompanied by strong winds. Freezing level above summits, falling to 900m in evening.
Mon 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
This is likely to be a brighter day with possibly a few showers. Strong southerly winds on the tops. Wet, stormy conditions perhaps arriving in evening. Freezing level 900m rising above summits.
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A lot of uncertainty by this stage but a spell of wet and very windy conditions is likely followed by brighter weather from the southwest. Mild with freezing level 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.