Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a windy and increasingly wet day on Thursday and then for a couple of cold, dry and mainly clear days Friday and Saturday. Low for the details from Sunday.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A cold, rather dull day with spells of rain and summit sleet. Windy.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 60% | 20% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
E
17
|
E
25
|
E
23
|
NE
13
|
NE
26
|
NE
32
|
| 600m |
E
18
|
E
20
|
E
20
|
NE
12
|
NE
19
|
NE
22
|
| 300m |
E
9
|
E
9
|
E
10
|
E
9
|
NE
10
|
N
8
|
| Valley |
NE
7
|
E
9
|
E
11
|
NE
13
|
NE
15
|
NE
10
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 22 | 31 | 29 | 18 | 33 | 40 |
| 600m | 25 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 27 | 31 |
| 300m | 20 | 22 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 26 |
| Valley | 13 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 29 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Feeling very cold in rain and strong winds. Note winds strengthening to near gale force late evening.
Weather
Clear skies through the early hours will give way to thicker cloud spreading northwards. A bright, chilly start but spells of rain will soon push northwards from mid-morning, driven in on fresh to strong easterly winds. Therefore, west facing slopes across the Western Fells likely seeing the best of the shelter. Rain falling as sleet on summits. Skies will clear from the north from late afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
80% quickly falling to 10% from mid to late morning as cloud descends quite widely to 600-700m.
Visibility
Very good initially, deteriorating to several kilometres at modest height in rain and several hundred meters in summit fog and sleet.
Ground conditions
No recent ground conditions report available.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A cold and windy day with a mixture of sunny spells, especially through morning, and isolated showers, these wintry near the summits. Skies clearing into the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
90%. Low cloud confined to transient showers.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 25-30mph gusting 35-40mph, easing a little through evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Around freezing early and late, otherwise 2-4C.
- Valley 5-7C rising 10-12C.
- Freezing level Above summits, falling 800m through evening.
Visibility
Generally very good away from any passing showers.
Mountain weather information
Saturday 26 September
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A cold northerly breeze brings bright and largely sunny conditions but cloud likely building through afternoon. Dry.
Sunday 27 September
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Likely another cold, dry and clear morning but an increasing threat of thicker cloud and patchy rain later in the day.
Monday 28 September
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Details uncertain but a shift in wind direction from the west or southwest likely bringing rather cloudy and milder weather.
Updated at:
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).