Mountain weather

Lake District

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Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for a serious of Atlantic weather fronts crossing the area, but confidence lowering for the detail of timing and extent of worst conditions.

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Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

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 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.

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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Overcast, wet start, but increasing chance of drier, brighter weather developing during the afternoon.

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Hill fog, most extensive in the west through this morning.

Weather

Dull, overcast this morning with periods of rain, heavy at first, particularly across western fells. Tending to turn drier and potentially brighter as the afternoon progresses, leaving clear spells and only scattered showers for the evening.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

Little chance for much of the morning, improving from late afternoon 50% in west and 70% in east

Visibility

Moderate or poor in rain, very poor in hill fog which will be focused across the west, with bases from 450-600m. Clouds lifting and breaking up a little later this afternoon.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

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Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rather cloudy with scattered showers, the bulk of these across western ranges. Larger area of occasionally heavy rain crossing from the west late afternoon and through the evening.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

40% becoming virtually nil from late afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southerly increasing 20-25mph gusts 40mph from early evening.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 8 Celsius
  • Valley Plus 8 Celsius increasing 17 Celsius during the afternoon
  • Freezing level Above all summits

Visibility

Good or very good becoming moderate or poor in showers and later longer periods of rain, also very poor in hill fog which will be focused across the west, particularly later in the day as bases become broken to extensive from 450-600m.

Mountain weather information

Tuesday 19 October

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Predominantly cloudy with showers or longer periods of rain, with the best chance of limited drier, brighter interludes across the east of the park. Fresh southwest summit winds with freezing level above all peaks.

Wednesday 20 October

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Showers or longer periods of rain, turning heavy at times with the risk of hail and thunder. Fresh to strong southwest summit winds with freezing level above all peaks.

Thursday 21 October

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Sunset:

Unsettled start with further showers or longer periods of rain, but turning dry, bright later, as the winds veer to the northwest.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

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).

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