Mountain weather
Lake District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a return to milder, unsettled conditions from mid-week. Medium in details.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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
Cloudy start, then sunny spells developing.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 20% | 10% | <05% | <05% | <05% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
NE
32
|
NE
32
|
NE
24
|
NE
16
|
E
10
|
E
9
|
| 600m |
NE
21
|
NE
22
|
NE
17
|
NE
15
|
E
8
|
E
8
|
| 300m |
NE
8
|
NE
9
|
NE
9
|
NE
8
|
NE
5
|
E
4
|
| Valley |
NE
13
|
NE
12
|
NE
14
|
NE
11
|
NE
9
|
NE
4
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 37 | 38 | 30 | 21 | 14 | 12 |
| 600m | 26 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 11 | 11 |
| 300m | 23 | 25 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 7 |
| Valley | 31 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
600m
|
700m
|
600m
|
600m
|
400m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Wet snowpack will freeze hard at height in lowering freezing level during the afternoon. Some ice possible in paths.
Weather
Outbreaks of rain and snow early morning, snow mainly above 600m with temporary blizzard conditions and drifting over the summits. The rain and snow dying out by mid-morning with bright then sunny spells increasing through the afternoon. Clear spells in the evening with a frost developing.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% early morning rising to 80% in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, base around 600m, the cloud lifting and clearing in the afternoon. Visibility moderate to very poor in early rain, snow and cloud, becoming mainly very good by the afternoon.
Ground conditions
Date: Monday 4 December 2023 Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:42 Full report: A wild day on the higher fells with strong winds and near whiteout conditions on Helvellyn's summit plateau. Rain at low levels turned to sleet and snow above roughly 600m. Slightly milder temperatures and rain are beginning to slowly thaw the snow, ice, and frozen ground below 700m resulting in very slippery ground. Walking poles and microspikes are advisable. The snowline has lifted to approximately 600m and depth generally increases with height. Ankle deep would be an approximate average with drifts around 1 metre deep not uncommon. Paths are completely covered in many places on Helvellyn's summit plateau making route finding and navigation very challenging. Footprints from other walkers were filled in in a matter of minutes today and do not make for reliable route finding. Fresh unstable cornices are present and building around north and east-facing corrie rims and potentially unstable windslab may also be present in these locations and on slopes with a similar slope aspect and angle. These areas should be given a wide berth. With subzero temperatures and the potential for further snowfall overnight, anyone heading out tomorrow should anticipate full winter conditions and be suitably clothed and equipped. Warm and waterproof clothing (plus spare warm layers), hats and gloves, a map, compass, headtorch, and goggles (for navigating in windy conditions) are all essential. As previously mentioned, microspikes and walking poles are very useful and crampons and an ice axe should be carried if attempting routes over steep and exposed ground. Temperature: minus 0.9 C, Maximum wind speed 42.2 mph, Wind chill: minus 10.9 C, Average wind speed: 30.1 mph
Mountain weather information
Weather
Patchy freezing fog possible in the valleys overnight, otherwise clear with a widespread frost. Dry and bright during daylight hours, any freezing fog slow to clear and the sunshine turning hazy. Strengthening winds and lowering cloud around dusk, then outbreaks of rain and snow in the evening. Snow mainly above 600m, but could be heavy with blizzard conditions. Heavy rain also likely lower down.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% overnight and much of daylight hours, but lowering 20% or less in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 20mph, increasing 30mph gusts 45mph in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 5 Celsius, later Minus 2 Celsius
- Valley Minus 3 Celsius rising to plus 4 Celsius
- Freezing level All levels at first, gradually rising to around 600m
Low cloud and visibility
Nil significant cloud overnight and much of daylight hours, but becoming extensive, base 600m or less in the evening. Mostly good or very good, becoming moderate to very poor in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Thu 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and overcast with outbreaks of rain, heavy and persistent at times. Southeasterly gales at height. Freezing level above the summits with a thaw settling in.
Fri 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy with showers or longer outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Strong to gale force, southeast becoming southwest, winds at height. Freezing level above the summits.
Sat 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with showers or longer outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Strong to gale force south or southwest winds at height, perhaps stormy at times over the summits. Freezing level above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
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).