Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled and occasionally very windy through the Saturday, also for the improvement from Sunday. However medium for the transitional detail and extent of and timing of the worst of the conditions.
This evening forecast
Overcast with periods of occasionally heavy rain and strong, initially gale, southerly summit winds that bring severe wind chill with height. With the extensive hill fog conditions are likely to be hazardous.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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
Dry, bright start. Showers developing which turn heavy for the afternoon as winds strengthen.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
90% | 60% | 10% | 10% | 30% | 60% | 60% | 50% |
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 |
SW
35
|
SW
31
|
W
27
|
SW
25
|
SW
26
|
SW
35
|
W
35
|
W
37
|
| 600m |
SW
29
|
SW
27
|
W
23
|
SW
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
29
|
W
28
|
W
29
|
| 300m |
SW
12
|
SW
12
|
W
11
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
SW
13
|
W
14
|
W
15
|
| Valley |
SW
13
|
SW
12
|
W
11
|
SW
10
|
SW
11
|
SW
14
|
W
16
|
W
17
|
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 | 45 | 39 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 45 | 47 | 51 |
| 600m | 41 | 37 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 41 | 42 | 44 |
| 300m | 31 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 32 | 34 | 38 |
| Valley | 29 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 31 | 34 | 36 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,000m
|
1,600m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
3°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Confidence in the timing of brighter spells during the morning medium. Gusts reaching 50mph from afternoon across more exposed ridges and summits.
Weather
Area of occasionally heavy rain over all at first overnight, soon clearing to leave brighter spells and only a few light well scattered showers to open the day. Mainly dry and bright start to the day, then cloud and showers building from late morning, with outbreaks quite frequent and occasionally heavy from mid-afternoon, bringing the chance of hail and thunder.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
75% at first becoming 25% by mid-afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Good visibility becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases becoming quite extensive from 500m for afternoon.
Ground conditions
Date: Wednesday 4 December 2024 Location: Helvellyn summit at 12:00 Full report: Tuesday night's rain and elevated temperatures have stripped yesterday's snow back. Little wet snow and ice remains on Helvellyn's summit plateau (above 900m) and east facing corrie lips. Caution still required descending the first 10m of Swirral Edge and the traverse path of Striding Edge where trampled ice remains. With unsettled wet and windy weather arriving overnight conditions will deteriorate and provide challenging walking with the need for all winter clothing (full waterproofs, insulation, hat & gloves) & kit. Temperature: plus 1.2 C, Maximum wind speed 21.2 mph, Wind chill: minus 6.5 C, Average wind speed: 11.8 mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry and bright start. Cloud increasing from mid-day, with a broad area of occasionally heavy rain reaching from the west late afternoon and through the evening, turning wintry above around 700m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80% becoming 10% by late afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
Generally 15-20mph, but risk strengthening later.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1-2 Celsius
- Valley Plus 2 Celsius rising 9 Celsius during the afternoon
- Freezing level 900m
Low cloud and visibility
Very good visibility becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases becoming quite extensive from 500m late in the day.
Mountain weather information
Sat 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very difficult to hazardous conditions with frequent and heavy showers of rain and summit snow, which merges to longer periods of rain at times at first, coupled with gales, perhaps storm force, winds.
Sun 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strong northerly winds bring a mix of brighter spells and showers, but showers dwindling later in day as winds ease. Snow level around 700m.
Mon 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry and rather cloudy. Light winds. Freezing level around 900m
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.