Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for unsettled Thursday, showers for Friday, mostly settled for bulk of weekend. Confidence medium for detail of worst of conditions for Thursday and low from late Sunday.

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 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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

Cloudy with showers or longer periods of rain and summit snow. Strong to gale summit winds easing a little from midday. Freezing level lifted a little by afternoon.

06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow shower (day) Sleet shower (day) Sleet shower (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
50% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m E
47
SE
38
SE
28
SE
26
E
30
E
21
600m E
35
SE
31
SE
25
SE
22
E
24
E
15
300m E
13
SE
13
SE
11
SE
10
E
10
E
7
Valley E
12
SE
11
SE
11
SE
10
E
10
E
8
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m 55 45 36 34 38 26
600m 46 40 34 30 33 21
300m 39 34 27 25 26 17
Valley 35 29 23 22 25 18

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
600m
300m
Valley
10°
Freezing Level
900m
1,000m
900m
900m
1,000m
1,100m

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-10°
-8°
-7°
-5°
-7°
-6°
600m
-6°
-5°
-4°
-1°
-3°
-2°
300m
Valley

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Severe wind chill restricted above mid-level routes.

Weather

Rather cloudy through the day with showers or longer periods of rain with snow above 400m, turning heavy at times bringing the risk of hail and thunder. Snow level lifting 700-800m from late morning. Best chance of limited brighter spells developing for a time early afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% becoming 50% for a time around early afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases quite frequently down to 600m.

Ground conditions

Date: Wednesday 27 March 2024 Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:40 Full report: A fresh covering of snow has settled above 700m. Its average depth at 900m is only approx 2cm with drifts up to 15cm and nothing at all on windswept areas. The greatest accumulations are in sheltered spots and hollows and especially on steep north facing aspects. The fresh snow is soft and wet and already thawing at almost all levels but especially below 800m. It was, however, raining in the valley as the assessor left the hill with, at the time of writing, further showers forecast this evening, overnight and Thursday morning which could fall as snow at altitude so walkers heading for the highest peaks on Thursday should expect and be prepared to encounter more snow than experienced and described here. In addition, temperatures are forecast to drop so, with a summit temperature around midday of only 0.5 degrees C this means a strong likelihood of walkers heading above the snowline on Thursday encountering some hard snow and ice. Conversely, no ice was present today with the main hazards being the strength and very gusty nature of the wind and the slippery nature of the wet and soft snow covered ground especially when traversing rocks or pitched paths particularly in descent. Several walkers were sensibly turning back before the summit owing to these factors. The strength of the wind at altitude combined with the temperature gradient (difference in temperature as one climbs) resulted in a marked contrast between the warmth of the valleys and the summit windchill (what the temperature actually feels like) which was a chilly minus 9 degrees C around midday. Thus full winter clothing (waterproofs - which double as windproofs - extra warm layers, hat & gloves), mountain boots and equipment, including a torch, are all essential to safely, and enjoyably, roam the fells. Visibility was poor at times in the cloud at altitude, so a map and compass together with the ability to use them and navigate competently when landmarks can't be seen is also essential. As mentioned, there is a possibility of encountering ice at altitude tomorrow, so for those heading for the highest fells on Thursday, microspikes and walking poles would be a sensible addition to your rucksack as would, being optimistic, sunglasses to lessen the glare from the snow. Anyone attempting or traversing steep and exposed routes above the snowline, such as the Helvellyn Edges, are strongly recommended to carry an ice axe and crampons or at least microspikes. The fact that these tools were not required today is irrelevant owing to the distinct possibility of there being more snow and ice on Thursday compared with today. Come properly equipped and enjoy, what may well be, the last throws of winter this season!! Temperature: plus 0.5 C Maximum wind speed 39.4 mph Wind chill: minus 9.1 C, Average wind speed: 26.4 mph

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cloudy around dawn with some patchy light rain and summit snow. Clearing to brighter spells and showers from mid-morning with outbreaks building into the afternoon, bringing a risk of hail and thunder. Snow level around 900m.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% around dawn, then from mid-morning 60% for any given time but very low for extended clear periods.

Maximum wind speed expected

South 20-25mph with gusts reaching 40mph across most exposed ridges and summits

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 2 Celsius increasing 13 Celsius during the afternoon
  • Freezing level Above summits

Low cloud and visibility

Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor snow and within cloud with bases occasionally down to 600m.

Mountain weather information

Sat 30 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Sunshine and some scattered showers, mostly light but some sharper ones developing for the afternoon. Southerly summit breezes easing light later. Freezing level above all summits.

Sun 31 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry, sunny start. Cloud building from mid-day with increasing chance of rain later. Light winds. Freezing level above all summits.

Mon 1 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Overcast with occasional rain, though most of this light. Freezing level above all summits. Winds light

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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