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 difficult
Challenging conditions, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, gusts may blow you over. 35 to 55mph.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Low temperatures over the mountains all day. Suitable protective clothing required. Beware of significant wind chill at higher levels.
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Gale force, walking difficult
Challenging conditions, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, gusts may blow you over. 35 to 55mph.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Low temperatures over the mountains all day. Suitable protective clothing required. Beware of significant wind chill at higher levels.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Saturday 9th December 2023
Last updated
Fri 8th Dec 23 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy rain and snow on higher Scottish tops push north over the Highlands. Heavy rain sets in across south & central Scotland. Heavy rain moves across England and Wales in the morning, followed by showers. Varied winds, fairly light much of Scotland, but increasing upland gales for England, severe for Wales.
Headline for Lake District
Heavy rain. Upland gales developing, risk severe later.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 15 to 30mph, abruptly and rapidly increasing, turning westerly afternoon, 40 to 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small at first, but marked chill. Becoming difficult as winds veer westerly, with significant wind chill and buffeting.
How Wet?
Heavy rain, then showers.
Several hours of heavy rain during the morning. Very wet underfoot with snow melt on highest tops. Tending to break up into heavy showers, risk isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud will shroud the hills extensively for much of daylight hours, despite a rise in bases to upper slopes post front later in the day. To lowest slopes in heavy rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast. Visibility widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
Around 4C, but feeling closer to -10C in direct exposure to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Sunday 10th December 2023
Last updated
Fri 8th Dec 23 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southwesterly, 25 to 40mph, speeds likely to vary during the day. Risk strengthening over 50mph after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with considerable wind chill over the tops, may become more arduous at times on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Heavy rain, possible snow tops
Rain soon persistent from dawn, continuous heavy falls for several hours into middle of day, especially west and south Lakes, later showery. May turn to sleet or snow highest tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the fells throughout the day, most persistent to lower elevations in southwestern areas. Higher bases north and northeastern areas, some breaks above 600m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Visibility poor due to rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing point to summits with patchy lying snow on upper slopes. May lower onto tops in heavy precipitation.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Monday 11th December 2023
Last updated
Fri 8th Dec 23 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Risk of westerly gales 40-50mph from before dawn, but speeds may then drop in morning to be variable 10-20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Beware possibly challenging conditions early in day, but likely to improve to give moderate or small effects on walking.
How Wet?
Patchy showers
Overnight rain likely to clear to leave a largely dry day, but occasional showery rain possible, most common toward coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering many tops
Cloud likely to shroud many higher areas all day, lowest bases in the morning, tending to rise with some breaks, best toward eastern fells.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun. Visibility good out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 750m)
4C. Wind chill risk feeling like -5 to -10C at first, sub-zero all day if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Areas of low pressure dominate into the weekend and early next week bringing unsettled conditions as a series of fronts circulate over Britain. Periods of heavy rain, with snow over higher mountains in Scotland as tops stay near or just below freezing point. Some freeze-thaw higher up, but mid-heights generally above freezing - very wet underfoot due to rain and snowmelt, beware flooding of streams and rivers. Most tops in England and Wales above freezing with terrain not frozen apart from local snow pockets. Generally windy, gales or severe gales at times over the tops - strongest speeds most sustained for England and Wales. Least windy in northern Scotland.