Mountain weather

Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for largely dry but cold weather on Sunday. Lower confidence for precipitation details on Monday and Tuesday but high for an eventual change to milder weather by Wednesday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Mostly dry but some patchy light rain, falling as snow above 500m. Cloud covering most of the fells above about 400 or 500m but some breaks across the northwest. Light east or southeast winds. Feeling cold with freezing level 600m.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard 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.

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.

Mountain weather forecast

Mainly dry. Low cloud slowly lifting. Cold and windy.

00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Fog Fog Fog Fog Cloudy Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
10% 10% 10% 10% 10% <05% <05% <05%

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 E
17
SE
18
SE
20
SE
25
SE
28
SE
25
SE
27
SE
28
600m SE
16
SE
18
SE
21
SE
27
SE
29
SE
26
SE
27
SE
29
300m E
7
E
6
SE
8
SE
12
SE
15
SE
14
SE
12
SE
13
Valley E
6
E
6
E
8
E
12
SE
14
SE
13
SE
11
SE
12
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 21 25 27 36 40 36 38 40
600m 22 26 30 38 42 38 40 43
300m 12 14 17 23 28 25 24 26
Valley 12 15 18 23 26 24 23 24

Altitude above mean sea level
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-3°
600m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
300m
Valley
Freezing Level
600m
600m
500m
400m
500m
500m
400m
200m

Altitude above mean sea level
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-7°
-8°
-8°
-10°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-12°
600m
-6°
-7°
-8°
-9°
-9°
-8°
-9°
-11°
300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-4°
-5°
Valley
-1°
-1°
-2°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

A largely dry day but feeling bitterly cold at height with a severe wind chill on the tops.

Weather

Mainly cloudy and dry overnight, a few clear breaks in northwest. The odd light wintry shower is possible on Sunday morning, otherwise mainly dry and cloudy. Bright spells developing in the afternoon then longer clear spells in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% in the morning becoming 70% in afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud and fog above 400m overnight and to start the morning but some breaks in the northwest. Cloud will slowly lift and break with just the highest summits affected in the afternoon before clearing by evening. Good visibility under the cloud base.

Ground conditions

Date: Saturday 15 February. Location: Helvellyn summit at 14:00. Full report: A strangely eerie day on Helvellyn with no wind, a blanket of low lying cloud giving limited visibility and only a 2 degree C difference between summit and valley. However there was a period of about an hour when the cloud dissipated and walkers were treated to extensive views and sunshine before the white room returned. Conditions were warmer than forecast and there was a slow thaw taking place at all levels. The neve (old refrozen snow) to be found above 700m on steep north through east aspects had softened up slightly but still gave good traction for those wearing crampons. The spectacular rime ice feathers which have been a feature of this week were also thawing slowly as was the new snow which has settled above 650m. Microspikes are strongly recommended for anyone venturing above the snowline on even the easiest paths. They were also reported to be working well on Striding Edge. However Swirral Edge is still in full winter condition and an ice axe and crampons are essential for a safe ascent or descent. Temperature: plus 0.9C, maximum wind speed 3.6mph, wind chill: plus 0.9C, average wind speed: 1.3mph.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Mainly dry overnight but a chance of some light snow for a time. A dry and cold day with bright spells then cloudier in the evening with a chance of sleet or snow towards midnight. Feeling bitterly cold with strong winds on the tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeast 25 to 35mph gusts 45mph. Severe wind chill.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 or 3C.
  • Valley 0C rising to 4C.
  • Freezing level Valley level, rising to 300m in afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Mainly very good visibility but poor in any snow overnight and late evening. Patchy cloud on the highest summits.

Mountain weather information

Tue 18 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of sleet or snow at first but soon dry with bright spells. Strong southerly winds giving a severe wind chill. Freezing level 300m.

Wed 19 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly dry and cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle. Freezing level rising above summits as milder conditions set in. Strong southerly winds on the tops.

Thu 20 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mild with occasional rain or drizzle. Strong to gale force southwest winds.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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