Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high for most aspects. Low for details on Monday night and Tuesday.
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.
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
Heavy rain morning and at end of the day. Occasionally strong summit winds.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | 30% | 80% | 20% | 60% | 90% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
SW
22
|
S
17
|
SE
30
|
SW
30
|
S
26
|
S
16
|
| 600m |
SW
19
|
S
16
|
SE
29
|
S
23
|
SW
18
|
S
13
|
| 300m |
W
7
|
S
4
|
SE
13
|
SW
6
|
S
6
|
S
5
|
| Valley |
W
4
|
S
3
|
SE
10
|
S
5
|
S
6
|
SE
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 26 | 21 | 37 | 36 | 32 | 20 |
| 600m | 26 | 21 | 38 | 30 | 26 | 18 |
| 300m | 22 | 14 | 30 | 24 | 20 | 13 |
| Valley | 18 | 11 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
1,000m
|
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Difficult conditions for much of the day with hill fog quite extensive from late morning, coupled with notable wind chill at height.
Weather
A dry start, but cloud soon thickening with heavy rain spreading northeast from mid-morning, some sleet or wet snow on highest summits. A few hours of dry weather around mid-afternoon. Heavy rain again spreads northeast from early evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% early morning, otherwise 10% or less
Low cloud and visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases generally extensive from 500m from mid-morning.
Ground conditions
Date: Saturday 9 December 2023. Location: Grizedale Pike summit at 11:28 Full report: A wet and windy day in the lakes with winds near gale force over high ground. The north and western fells are now largely snow-free with just small fragments of snow lingering in some sheltered areas. The central, southern, and eastern fells by contrast received more snow last week, and (although it is rapidly thawing at all levels) more is likely to remain in these areas. The temperature is above freezing on the highest tops today so any remaining snow will be wet, soft, and thawing. The highest fells still have a considerable covering of snow although it is often interspersed with areas of bare ground. Deep drifts (up to knee deep) are present in sheltered areas predominantly on north-facing slopes. Compacted snow-ice may also be present with overnight refreezing. Exposed routes such as Swirral and Striding Edge require care and are a mixture of wet rock and soft snow. Microspikes are advisable, and crampons and ice axe should be carried on these and similar steep and exposed routes in case the wet snow freezes at altitude. Full winter clothing (waterproofs, extra warm layers, hat and gloves), and equipment including a map, compass, and a headtorch are all essential. Temperature: plus 3.8 C, Maximum wind speed 50.5 mph, Wind chill: minus 3.4 C, Average wind speed: 32.8 mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Largely dry, but mostly cloudy with hill fog at times. Heavy early in the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40-50% by day
Maximum wind speed expected
Variable 15mph or less
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius
- Valley Zero Celsius increasing 8 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level 1000m in the morning. Rising above the summits in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Good visibility outside of low cloud. Variable cloud bases, occasionally lowering to 600m.
Mountain weather information
Tue 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers or longer periods of rain and summit snow, heavy at times. Fresh northeast summit winds developing later. Freezing level 800-1000m.
Wed 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with bright spells, but chance of rain early and late in the day. Fresh northerly summit winds easing. Freezing level 600-700m.
Thu 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early rain clearing to sunshine and showers. Fresh west to southwest summit winds.
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.
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England. From its summit, the view spans from the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland to Snowdonia in Wales. The Lake District also contains the deepest and longest lakes in England; Wastwater and Windermere.
Much smaller than its Scottish counterparts, but no less breathtaking, is the Lake District National Park. While unarguably most famous for the lakes and waters from which it took its name, the National Park certainly has plenty to offer climbers as well. Not only that, special routes have been created (known as Miles Without Stiles) to offer more laid back, moderate walks.
Those looking for a challenge are suitably catered for with the Lakeland Fells, as made famous by rambler and cartographer Alfred Wainwright. These include some of the highest peaks in England: Scafell Pike (978 metres), Scafell (965 metres), Helvellyn (951 metres) and Skiddaw (931 metres).