Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Cloudy conditions on Tuesday but uncertainty over the chance of cloud breaks developing. A stormy period of weather likely towards the end of the week, keep an eye on latest forecasts.
This evening forecast
A dull, damp evening with a lot of cloud shrouding the fells and mist and fog forming widely, light southwesterly winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mist and fog slow to clear, mostly cloudy and quite dull with some drizzle, perhaps brighter in the north.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 30% | 40% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
S
12
|
S
12
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
SW
11
|
SW
11
|
S
7
|
S
7
|
| 600m |
S
7
|
S
7
|
S
8
|
S
7
|
S
9
|
SW
9
|
S
6
|
S
6
|
| 300m |
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
S
5
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
S
3
|
| Valley |
SE
4
|
S
4
|
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
S
6
|
SW
6
|
S
5
|
S
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| 600m | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| 300m | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Valley | 8 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Mostly light south or southwesterly winds. Freezing level lowering later in the day so precipitation may turn wintry on higher fells.
Weather
Early mist and fog patches will be slow to clear during the morning. Outbreaks of drizzly rain and overcast cloud for much of the morning, tending to brighten a little around Northern Fells where there could be a few brighter spells in the afternoon but risk of a shower anywhere. Fells in the south tending to stay cloudy.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% most likely around northern Fells in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Layers of overcast cloud above 300m for much of the day, further north cloud will be more scattered above 400m with some breaks possible further north in the afternoon. Prepare for cloudy conditions on the summits. Visibility below the cloud will be good but turning moderate in drizzly rain. Visibility will be very poor on the summits for much of the day and very poor in fog.
Ground conditions
Monday 20 January Location: Helvellyn summit at 1345, Full report: A great day to practice some winter navigation skills today (Bearings, Pacing and Timing) with poor visibility throughout daylight hours. Misty, damp conditions along with light winds shrouded the fells and had little effect on the remaining snow patches, which are all over two weeks old now. Any snow is currently soft and wet. The only cautionary note being the edges of compacted areas that are intermittently freezing and thawing and slippery. With near freezing temperatures on the high summits tomorrow the damp rock could easily turn to black ice and prove more challenging to walkers and scramblers. It is also at the lower wind speeds and milder air temperatures that the wind chill has its biggest impact. So, despite the meagre winter snow and ice conditions be prepared with plenty of synthetic layers to wear and a waterproof shell as well as confidence in navigating too and from your fell top destinations. Temperature: Plus 1.6 C, Maximum wind speed 10.6 mph, Wind chill: minus 3.5 C, Average wind speed: 9.3 mph.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy but some bright or sunny spells developing, risk of a few afternoon showers otherwise mainly dry, feeling chilly but light winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% improving to 70% later.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 10 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Zero Celsius
- Valley Zero Celsius rising to plus 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800m
Low cloud and visibility
Broken cloud layers above 600m will thin and lift during the day, especially around northern fells, cloud patches lingers further south. Visibility will generally be good or very good especially around northern fells in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Thu 23 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Feeling cold with freezing level around 800m some showers will turn wintry on the higher tops, some brighter spells away from showers but strong southwesterly winds in the afternoon.
Fri 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Wet conditions with strong south or southwesterly winds, possibly gales, some sunny spells possible later in the day, Freezing level lifting above all summits.
Sat 25 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Southwesterly wind remaining fresh or strong but a lot of brighter weather, tuning colder again with a significant windchill likely.
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.