Mountain weather

Lake District

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Lake District Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for wet and windy conditions on New Year's Eve then low confidence for the timings of rain or snow clearing south on New Year's Day and transition to colder conditions.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Outbreaks of rain becoming light and patchy. Strengthening southwesterly winds with gales later on the tops. Freezing level above 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 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.
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 Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Very wet and windy. Storm force winds on high slopes.

00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Fog Fog Fog Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Light rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 10% 10% 20% 80% >95% 60% 60% 90%

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
43
 SW
54
 SW
56
 SW
60
 SW
67
 SW
57
 SW
50
 SW
46
600m SW
35
 SW
44
 SW
45
 SW
45
 SW
49
 SW
44
 SW
38
 SW
36
300m SW
14
 SW
18
 SW
18
 SW
17
 SW
19
 SW
18
 SW
17
 SW
16
Valley SW
13
 SW
17
 SW
17
 SW
19
 SW
22
 SW
19
 SW
17
 SW
17
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 53 67 70 76 84 73 64 59
600m 46 60 62 63 67 62 54 51
300m 35 45 45 47 52 47 42 39
Valley 33 40 42 48 53 45 39 39

Altitude above mean sea level
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
3°
3°
3°
3°
4°
4°
3°
2°
600m
5°
5°
5°
5°
6°
6°
5°
4°
300m
7°
7°
7°
7°
7°
8°
8°
6°
Valley
8°
9°
9°
9°
9°
10°
9°
8°
Freezing Level
1,400m
1,400m
1,500m
2,000m
1,900m
1,500m
1,300m
1,100m

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

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Gusts of 70 to 90mph on high slopes will make walking almost impossible. Severe conditions from heavy rain, strong winds and wind chill.

Weather

Mainly dry overnight with patchy light rain. Rain becoming persistent and heavy in the morning with drenching conditions for much of the day. Turning showery for a time in the afternoon then persistent again in the evening with wet snow on the highest tops. Severe, stormy conditions on the tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10%, becoming 40% for a time in afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud above 500 or 600m, perhaps lifting a little in the afternoon. Poor visibility for much of the day in rain.

Ground conditions

Date: Monday 30 December 2024 Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:00 UTC. Full report: A very challenging day on the Lake District fells with torrential rain, high winds and poor visibility. Winds increased rapidly with height with gusts of 60mph through cols and over exposed ridges. Wind speeds this high can easily affect your balance or even knock you off your feet with a high risk of injury. You will also expand a lot more energy walking in these conditions. Goggles can be a welcome addition to your kit to maintain some semblance of enjoyment. Full winter clothing is currently essential for anyone venturing into the hills. This should include waterproof tops and bottoms, warm layers, hats and gloves, appropriate footwear with plenty of grip plus a torch, mobile phone, whistle, survival bag, food and a couple of reliable means of navigation. There is currently no snow or ice in the Lake District. Weather conditions are again forecast to be extremely bad on Tuesday before the arrival of colder more settled conditions with potentially significant snowfall in the New Year. Temperature: plus 3.2 C, Maximum wind speed 58.9 mph, Wind chill: minus 6.4 C, Average wind speed: 32.5 mph.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rain, sleet, with snow mainly above 400m but perhaps to lower levels, overnight and in the morning. This is expected to clear south by afternoon but timings and snow levels are uncertain at this stage. Drier for a time then a band of showery sleet or snow moves south. Dry, clear and very cold weather following in evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% becoming 60%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwesterly 40mph gusts 55mph overnight becoming Westerly or Northwesterly 25 to 30mph gusts 40mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 1C falling to Minus 1C, then Minus 5 C in evening.
  • Valley Plus 5 or 6C, falling to Plus 1C later.
  • Freezing level 900m falling to 400m, then valley level in evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud above 600m overnight and to start the morning with poor or very poor visibility in rain or snow. Improving in the afternoon for a time with cloud lifting, then poor for a time later in showery sleet or snow.

Mountain weather information

Thu 2 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry, sunny and very cold. Strong northerly winds with severe wind chill. Freezing level down to valley level.

Fri 3 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright spells and wintry showers, turning to rain below 300m. Brisk northwest winds. Freezing level rising to 500m.

Sat 4 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright intervals and scattered wintry showers, but mainly rain on low slopes. Light winds. Freezing level around 400m.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.

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