Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for the general weather story with cold conditions giving way to very unsettled and milder weather through the weekend.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Bright and cold with sunny spells. Snow showers later.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | <05% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
N
19
|
N
19
|
NW
21
|
NW
28
|
W
31
|
NW
31
|
| 600m |
N
13
|
NW
10
|
NW
16
|
W
21
|
W
25
|
NW
23
|
| 300m |
NW
4
|
NW
3
|
NW
7
|
NW
8
|
W
10
|
NW
10
|
| Valley |
N
4
|
N
1
|
NW
8
|
NW
9
|
W
10
|
NW
11
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 21 | 22 | 26 | 35 | 38 | 38 |
| 600m | 19 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 34 | 33 |
| 300m | 17 | 14 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 27 |
| Valley | 15 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
0°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
0m
|
100m
|
200m
|
300m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Bitterly cold despite the sunshine. Heavy snow showers in the evening will bring a slight risk of thunder.
Weather
Mainly dry and very cold with long sunny spells. A small chance of isolated snow showers in the west. From around late afternoon or early evening, the snow showers will become heavier and more widespread accompanied by strong northwesterly winds, although the northern Fells likely remain dry.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%, becoming 30% later when snow showers arrive.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally excellent visibility with clear views of distant hills. Perhaps poor in the west for short periods in any snow showers with scattered cloud above 500m. Becoming very poor for longer periods later when snow showers arrive with occasional cloud above 400m.
Ground conditions
No recent ground conditions report available.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Snow showers dying out around midnight then dry and clear. Friday will be mainly dry and bright with long sunny spells. The odd light snow shower may move in from the west. Still feeling very cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 20 gusts 30mph decreasing 10-15mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 3C.
- Valley Minus 4C rising to 4C.
- Freezing level Valley level, rising to 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly excellent visibility. Locally poor in any snow showers with patchy cloud above 600m.
Mountain weather information
Sat 23 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry, cold start. Cloud increasing to bring a period of heavy snow, turning to rain during the afternoon as milder air arrives. Blizzard conditions likely for a time on high slopes with severe gale or storm force southeasterly winds. Freezing level 400m rising above summits in the afternoon.
Sun 24 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Heavy rain clearing by morning then bright spells and occasional rain showers. Very windy with southerly gales. Freezing level above summits.
Mon 25 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain moving in from the west. Strong to gale force westerly winds. 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.