Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Medium for details throughout.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cloudy with occasional rain, drizzle and mist. High fog. Strong southwest winds over the summits.

Sunrise:
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 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)
Drizzle Drizzle Drizzle Drizzle Fog Cloudy Cloudy Mist
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
600m
300m
Valley
10°
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°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-1°
-2°
600m
300m
Valley

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.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

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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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).