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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.
Today's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold with widespread gales in exposure; powerful gusts and severe wind chill. North and west Scotland often dry and free of cloud; an increasing risk of snow south with time, possibly east as well. English hills largely dry, hill cloud mostly isolated to high Pennines. Cloudier Wales with snow arriving from the south.
Headline for Lake District
Gales, powerful gusts, severe chill factor; most fells clear
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 40-45mph, at times stronger with powerful gusts in high exposure and elevated passes, may approach 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking and severe wind chill; stability constantly affected on high terrain in buffeting gusts; strongest gusts may knock you off your feet.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
A remote risk of some light snow on slopes nearest the Irish Sea late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Little cloud expected
A few caps may graze the summits of Scafell group and Coniston, but most fells stay clear of cloud.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Likely sunny but weakened by high cloud, trending towards thicker cloud in the west with time. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-3C from dawn, many slopes rising a degree. Feeling as cold as -18C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from dawn, thaws up to 400-500m during daylight, then refreezing overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 19th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 35-40mph 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?
Any precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud unlikely
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny but weakened by high cloud, may become clearer with time. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C from dawn, lifting slightly, to -1C but local variability is likely. Feeling like -12C in direct wind.
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
Tue 17th Feb 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 35-40mph, trending towards higher speeds, gusty 45mph at least, shifting SW'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with buffeting and significant wind chill; maintaining stability requires constant effort.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Periods of rain come and go from the west through the day, falling as snow early, at first down to middle slopes. Best of breaks in the rain towards Helvellyn; may stay damp on western fells between rain.
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
700-800m from dawn, some lower slopes frozen as well, rising with time above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Much terrain in England and Scotland remains frozen as the weekend approaches. However, freezing level will be less well defined on western slopes as stable downslope flow may warm and thaw frozen ground up to middle elevations, particularly in Wales and England. Friday into the weekend sees a switch to southwesterly winds, bringing milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing to Munro summits will occur but also further snowfall on higher terrain during the day-to-day variability of precipitation and freezing levels. Often cloudy with periods of rain further south, most often affecting western and southern hills where cloud will be lowest and at times drizzly in the south. Often windy with upland gales.