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 rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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 rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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 21st January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and hill snow in eastern Scotland in the morning tends to ease off; largely dry toward west. E-SE'ly gales in north, lower wind speeds S & W Highlands, but increasing again later. In England & Wales, upland gales all day, rain and initially snow on tops extending north, becoming milder from the south.
Headline for Lake District
Gales developing. Dry morning, cloud breaks; rain later.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 20-30mph early morning, but tending to strengthen quickly, reaching 40-50mph middle of day into afternoon, powerful gusts developing through high passes and downslope to the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Moderate conditions at first, but walking increasing arduous over exposed terrain, into afternoon gusts knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill developing.
How Wet?
Dry morning, rain develops afternoon onward
A little rain up to dawn, snow flurries high tops, but soon largely dry for several hours through morning into middle of day. Pulses of rain spreading from south into afternoon, becoming persistent and heavier later, by then rain up to the tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Most frequent south, breaks north
Varied patches of cloud over higher slopes in the morning, most persistent on southern fells, here may linger. Breaks toward tops for several hours north and northwest. Lowering cloud from south later afternoon onward.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% south, to 70% north until late afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright morning with some sun in north, very good visibility for a few hours; high cloud then building from south to be overcast and hazier later.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1C, then rising to 3 or 4C after dark. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C where exposed on higher areas.
Freezing Level
Near or just below freezing above 800m; rising well above tops evening into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 40 to 50mph, stronger gusts in places near and west of higher tops, including through elevated passes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult in exposure and gusts knocking you off balance not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Rain most frequent south and eastern fells. Patchier northwestward.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Often covering higher fells, bases around 600-700m, but some higher breaks toward the west and northwest Lakes.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter moments western areas. Visibility poor in precipitation, a general haze, locally better west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C. Wind chill feels as cold as -15C.
Freezing Level
Above freezing on most tops, but may drop near to zero on higher eastern fells.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 40 to 50mph, stronger gusts in places near and west of higher tops, elevated passes too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult in exposure and gusts knocking you off balance not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/sleet east fells
Occasional patchy rain on south and east fells, falling as sleet on high terrain - likely dry for hours at a time. A greater chance of rain later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Shrouding the high fells all day, bases may lift at times, highest lifting on northwest fells, but lowering again later in rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter moments western areas. Visibility poor in precipitation, a general haze, locally better west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1C, may drop to freezing on eastern fells. Wind chill feels as cold as -15C.
Freezing Level
Around the high fells most of the day, perhaps lowering towards 800-900m eastern fells.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains later this week, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland Thursday-Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow; colder further south over the weekend. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.