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.
This evening forecast
Outbreaks of rain becoming light and patchy. Strengthening southwesterly winds with gales later on the tops. Freezing level above summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Gales
Poor Visibility
Heavy Persistent Rain
Storm Force Winds
Severe Chill Effect
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) |
||||||||
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 10% | 20% | 80% | >95% | 60% | 60% | 90% |
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
|
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 |
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
|
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.
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
Dry, sunny and very cold. Strong northerly winds with severe wind chill. Freezing level down to valley level.
Fri 3 Jan
Bright spells and wintry showers, turning to rain below 300m. Brisk northwest winds. Freezing level rising to 500m.
Sat 4 Jan
Bright intervals and scattered wintry showers, but mainly rain on low slopes. Light winds. Freezing level around 400m.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
The Lake District covers an area of 885 square miles with its highest point, Scafell Pike, standing at 978 metres.