Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for Monday. High for changeable weather for the coming week.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.
hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

Dry with bright spells. Fresh summit winds.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Clear night Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
<05% 00% 00% 00% 00% 00%

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
24
S
22
S
20
S
22
SE
28
SE
30
600m S
21
S
21
S
19
S
20
S
24
S
31
300m S
3
S
10
S
10
S
11
S
8
S
11
Valley S
1
S
7
S
10
S
10
SE
6
SE
6
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m 28 27 26 28 34 39
600m 29 26 24 27 34 45
300m 17 20 22 24 24 30
Valley 14 15 18 19 20 22

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
600m
300m
10°
Valley
10°
12°
11°
10°
Freezing Level
800m
900m
900m
1,100m
1,600m
1,500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-7°
-7°
-4°
-2°
-1°
600m
-4°
-4°
300m
Valley
10°
10°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Remaining cold on the tops with a brisk breeze and significant wind chill.

Weather

Dry throughout with variable amounts of cloud and bright intervals

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Low cloud and visibility

Good visibility with only small amounts of cloud above 900 metres. Many summits will be cloud free. Small chance of some thin cloud around 800 metres in the south at first.

Ground conditions

Date: Sunday 5 April. Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:00: Temperature: minus 1.8 C. Maximum wind speed 30.9 mph. Wind chill: minus 11.5C. Average wind speed: 27.6 mph. Full report: Fresh Snow. The latter part of Storm Dave moved through on Easter Sunday. The morning approach in the east of the National Park began with sleet before clearing to a largely fine morning, punctuated by occasional snow and hail showers. A strong westerly wind was felt across the fells for most of the day as the storm tracked away to the north-east. Despite an air temperature of -1.8°C on Helvellyn summit, the strength of the wind drove wind chill well into negative double figures, making it feel bitterly cold. Good visibility on the summit revealed fresh snowfall across the eastern fells, mixed with hail and graupel (snow pellets). This was being actively transported by the strong winds and deposited onto the east face of Helvellyn and along its edges. Sunny spells and the drying effect of the wind left much of the rock on Swirral Edge dry, providing good scrambling conditions where snow could be avoided by keeping to the sheltered eastern side. Some light verglas (thin ice) had formed where meltwater had refrozen, though this was generally easy to avoid. Ascents from the Thirlmere side proved more demanding, with winds accelerating upslope and causing sustained buffeting. Bank Holiday Monday - and the final day of fell top assessments for the 25/26 season - should see a slight improvement, with further sunshine possible and a modest easing of wind strength. However, wind chill will remain very cold, and full winter clothing is still required for safe travel on the high fells. Happy Easter break.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Dry for most of the day with some hazy sunshine although high cloud thickening later. Chance of the odd spot of rain in the evening. Strong southerly winds at height. Warm at low levels.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southerly average speeds of 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph on the tops

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 10 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 4 rising to 18 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above the summits

Low cloud and visibility

Good visibility with little in the way of summit cloud

Mountain weather information

Wed 8 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A cloudy day with some patchy light rain in the morning, becoming dry in the afternoon.

Thu 9 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Sunny intervals and scattered showers, these falling as hail, sleet and snow at height. Cold, strong westerly summit winds. Freezing level 800 metres.

Fri 10 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain spreading east in the morning. Strong to gale southwesterly winds. Freezing level rising above summits.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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