
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for occasionally unsettled, lowering confidence in the detail of worst of the weather.
This evening forecast
Rain, heavy at first. Severe gale westerly summit winds easing gale late evening. Freezing level above summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Poor Visibility
Heavy Persistent Rain
Mountain weather forecast
Rain and summit snow for much of the day. Summit winds strong bringing severe wind chill at height.
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 80% | 20% | 30% | 80% | 80% | 60% | 80% |
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
900m |
W
42
|
W
39
|
W
25
|
S
18
|
SE
20
|
S
26
|
SW
22
|
S
17
|
600m |
W
34
|
W
31
|
W
20
|
S
13
|
SE
17
|
S
21
|
SW
15
|
S
12
|
300m |
W
16
|
W
14
|
W
9
|
S
4
|
SE
8
|
S
7
|
SW
6
|
S
5
|
Valley |
W
15
|
W
13
|
W
8
|
SW
4
|
SE
7
|
S
5
|
SW
5
|
SE
7
|
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
900m | 54 | 49 | 31 | 22 | 27 | 34 | 27 | 23 |
600m | 47 | 43 | 29 | 19 | 25 | 29 | 22 | 18 |
300m | 40 | 36 | 23 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
Valley | 36 | 32 | 21 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
900m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
600m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
300m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
1,300m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
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 severe wind chill at height.
Weather
Best chance of seeing limited drier and brighter conditions early morning on another wise cloudy day of rain which turns heavy at times, particularly for the afternoon, and falling as snow from 800-1000m.
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
Brighter spells and only a few light showers by day, snow level 800m, but chance of some rain, snow across highest tops, for a time early morning also moving into the evening, with some heavier outbreaks developing into the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
75% 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 900-1000m by day
Low cloud and visibility
Generally good, becoming moderate or poor in rain or showers, very poor within cloud infrequently lowering to 600m.
Mountain weather information
Tue 12 Dec
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
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
Early rain clearing to sunshine and showers. Fresh west to southwest summit winds.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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).