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
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 26th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force southwesterlies, strengthening to be severe on higher mountains. Rain increasingly persistent from the west, some heavier falls setting in for periods combined with lowering cloud over the hills. Near freezing on higher Scottish tops, where some snow falls for a time.
Headline for Lake District
Upland gales. Rain increasingly persistent, heavy at times.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly, strengthening in morning 40 to 55mph, gusts over 60mph higher fells through middle of day. Then lessening gradually into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking all day on the fells, most powerful wind requiring bracing/crouching for stability, on higher exposed terrain gusts may knock you over; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain, sets in with time
Bands of rain will sweep west-to-east through the day. Dry periods between the pulses in morning, though west and southern fells will stay often wet. More prolonged heavier rain by middle of day into afternoon, then showery later.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest south and west, deteriorating
Variable, extensive over high terrain during pulses of rain, bases reaching as low as 400m on western aspects. Higher bases during dry periods, breaks to some summits in the east possible, but widely filling in during rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable cloud, sometimes brighter skies with glimpses of sun through high cloud in east, but then overcast during rain. Good visibility during rain/fog breaks, but poor where rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 750m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -10 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the summits)
West to northwesterly, speed likely to vary 10 to 25mph, risk increasing northerly late in day possibly to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often fairly small, but possibly more blustery at times with marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
High uncertainty - risk periods of rain during the day, but equally some drier intervals - may become dry for several hours, then risk rain returns later.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain
Fairly extensive above 500-600m in the morning, ragged lower patches too from rain. A lifting trend, some breaks possible too, but with a risk of returning extensively again if rain returns.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, a veil of high cloud even if skies do brighten for a time. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C, tending to drop later in day. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits most likely all day, then likely to drop into night onto higher fells.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southwesterly 10-15mph, strengthening to 20-25mph afternoon, later risk 35-40mph by dusk onward.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small for several hours, becoming more noticeably blustery from west with time, later affecting comfortable walking.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely during day
Chance of a brief shower toward coast in morning. Well onward into night, rain preceded by hill snow moving in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patches grazing some higher slopes in morning, likely to lift and largely clear.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly good amounts of sun. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1C. As wind increases later, feeling like -7 to -10C where exposed.
Freezing Level
800 to 900m, plus slight frost some sheltered lower areas early morning.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with a drop of freezing level Friday into Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds locally for a few more days. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, but some frosts into valleys at times.