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Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 19th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 18th Feb 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Most mountain terrain remains frozen. Gusty southeasterly wind with significant chill factor. Some snow flurries towards southwest of Highlands with low cloud banks, clearer northward. Light snow fading Peak District and Pennines, low cloud persists here. Generally dry Wales but increasingly windy.
Headline for Lake District
Strong wind easing. Varied cloud, patchy flurries.
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 30-35mph and gusty; a gradual southerly trend with time and trending towards lighter speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous to start the day, effects easing but walking remains strenuous with buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Little precipitation
Some patchy light sleet, snow over fells above 500-600m, but amounting to very little. However, in places feeling generally damp where in cloud.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied cloud banks may linger
Uncertain extent of low cloud, some fells may be largely clear for periods, particularly more northern areas, but risk of lingering cloud banks, which may fill in above 600m further south and west, at times possibly lower.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy overall, some local brighter areas mainly toward northeast. Varied visibility, rather hazy, some mistier spots, locally good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C from dawn, lifting slightly, to -1C but local variability is likely. Feeling like -12C in direct wind in morning.
Freezing Level
200-300m, lifting to 500-600m, though higher thaws possible towards northern Lakeland.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 20th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 18th Feb 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 35-40mph, shifting SW'ly, generally increasing speeds and gusty, reaching up to 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with buffeting and significant wind chill; maintaining stability requires constant effort/crouching.
How Wet?
Steady rain on and off
Areas of rain pass east through the day, setting in for hours at a time; falling as snow early, but the rain level rising.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable but fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds high terrain with bases to middle slopes most or all day to the west of highest tops. Filling in more widely during periods of rain, but breaks towards high tops possible too during cessation in rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy but some bright/sunny breaks will come and go, best east. Variable visibility, very good when out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C from dawn, lifting to 3 or 4C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
600-800m from dawn, some lower slopes frozen as well, rising with time above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Saturday 21st February 2026
Last updated
Wed 18th Feb 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 35 to 40mph, tending to strengthen further up to dusk, 50mph+ into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions, making balance challenging on exposed ridges, becoming widely difficult later.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle
Rain on and off, persistently drizzly at least much of the region, most constant rain toward west and southwest Lakes, likely heavier with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanketing the hills all day, from lower elevations upward west and southwestern fells, rarely above 400-500m. Furthest east, bases toward 600m at times.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Hazy, visibility widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5C. Where exposed to stronger winds on tops, feeling like -7C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Toward the weekend, a switch to southwesterly winds, bringing milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales with substantial thawing, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing to Munro summits will occur but also further snowfall and refreezing on higher terrain during the day-to-day variability of precipitation and freezing levels onward into early next week. Often windy with periods of upland gales. Some spells of heavy rain over all western hills and low cloud frequently covering the hills.