Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Medium for details throughout.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with occasional rain, drizzle and mist. High fog. Strong southwest winds over the summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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
Cloudy with mist and drizzle at first. Skies brightening with the chance of showers.
| 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% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 30% | 20% |
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
22
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
SW
21
|
SW
26
|
SW
23
|
SW
24
|
S
21
|
| 600m |
SW
18
|
SW
13
|
SW
11
|
SW
18
|
SW
22
|
SW
20
|
SW
19
|
S
17
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
SW
10
|
S
9
|
S
8
|
| Valley |
SW
9
|
SW
4
|
SW
4
|
SW
9
|
SW
12
|
SW
12
|
S
11
|
S
8
|
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 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 28 |
| 600m | 24 | 17 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
| 300m | 19 | 14 | 13 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| Valley | 19 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 18 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,600m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,400m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,600m
|
1,500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Nothing further to add.
Weather
Cloudy overnight and during the morning with occasional rain, drizzle and mist. Skies brightening during the afternoon and cloud lifting and breaking, although the odd heavy shower is possible. Mainly dry in the evening with patchy cloud cover.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil to 20% overnight and early morning, becoming 60% in the afternoon, best of the breaks expected over the Northern Fells and Far Eastern Fells.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive, base 300 to 600m at first, lifting and breaking near or above the summits in the afternoon. Visibility moderate to very poor at first, becoming mainly good or very good in the afternoon, except in showers and summit cloud.
Ground conditions
Wednesday 29 March. Helvellyn Summit at 10:54. Temperature 5.1C. Maximum wind speed 30mph. Wind chill - 1.9C. Average wind speed: 24.4mph. A wet morning with extensive low cloud and visibility reduced to around 50m from relatively low levels upwards. The cloud base lifting slightly by midday. The Lakeland fells and paths are snow free up to and including the highest tops, with only a few small, isolated, and insignificant patches of old snow remaining. These are found on steep north and east-facing slopes above 900m on Helvellyn and are not in areas where walkers are likely to venture. Wet and windy conditions remain in the forecast for the next few days. Despite the clocks changing and the start of British summertime, the windchill (feels-like) temperatures on the high fells are still frequently in negative figures. Walkers should be prepared with plenty of warm and waterproof layers, hats and gloves, headtorch, whistle, survival bag, as well as a map and compass.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mainly dry and cloudy or bright, although some patchy rain or showers possible, most likely over the Eastern and Far Eastern Fells. Outbreaks of rain and lowering cloud in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% during daylight hours falling 40% in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
East or Northeast 20mph gusting 30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 to 6 Celsius
- Valley Plus 6 Celsius rising to 12 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or extensive cloud, base 600 to 900m, highest bases likely over the Western and North Western Fells, lowering 600m or less in the evening. Visibility good or very good, but moderate to very poor in rain and summit cloud.
Mountain weather information
Sat 1 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and overcast with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Mist and hill fog. Light and variable winds. Freezing level above the summits.
Sun 2 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Any patchy low and mist soon clearing. Bright, perhaps sunny, spells developing along with a scattering of showers. Light or moderate northwest winds. Freezing level above the summits.
Mon 3 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry and bright. Rain, lowering cloud and strengthening southeast winds later in the day. Freezing level above the 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.
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).