Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Friday'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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Friday 13th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold widely gale force upland winds around a deep low north of Scotland, will bring a succession of snow and hail showers to the mountains. Cloud will extensively cover the mountains (the highest cloud base well inland afternoon). Much higher terrain will be below freezing point.
Headline for Lake District
Upland gales; frequent squally hail and snow showers. Fog.
How windy? (On the summits)
West to southwesterly 45-55mph post dawn. Will tend to ease toward 40-45mph, but very gusty near precipitation.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking particularly morning on exposed higher terrain, considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow showers, small risk thunder
Showers with hail and above 300, later 550m snow. Sometimes precipitation very frequent giving almost constant precipitation over an hour or so. Small risk thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering higher fells most or perhaps all day
Cloud base varying sometimes quickly: near precipitation shafts of cloud 450m or lower and persistent higher fells. During drier periods cloud base typically 600 to 750m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, most often lower slopes east Cumbria. Visibility varying between intermittently very good, and sometimes appalling in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C rising to around 0C afternoon. Will feel as cold as minus 12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
400m from dawn, rising to 600-700m into afternoon, slightly higher
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwest to westerly, ranging from 30 to perhaps for a few hours 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking at times where exposed across higher areas. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers.
Showers: may be frequent (sometimes merging one into another and whiteout) morning, but should gradually ease. Expect hail and above 450m, snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost constantly covering higher fells; lowest cloud base morning
Varied cloud base: sometimes below 300-450m near precipitation but periods when most cloud above 600 to 800m. Generally highest cloud base north and northeastern fells.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly lower slopes northeast Cumbria. Hazy, and very poor visibility in snow
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
750m
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Sunday 15th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwest veering west typically between 35 and 45mph, perhaps 60mph morning. Risk strengthening further toward dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued difficult walking and wind chill significant on exposed higher areas. Expect balance, and in places general mobility to be difficult.
How Wet?
Rain morning; clearing to showers
Morning: Extensive rain. Middle of day: Clearing from west, but the rain finishing as snow above 600m Afternoon: Hail and snow showers (rain lower slopes). Chance isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fells covered morning; then cloud base rising markedly
Morning: Blanket of fog across the fells, breaks to 600m north lakes. Middle of day: Beginning to improve. Into afternoon: Varying cloud base, between occasionally 500m near precipitation and otherwise 750 to 900m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Less than 10% morning; later 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Dull and misty morning. Then improving to patchy sun (mainly well inland) and mostly good visibility (abruptly poor in precipitation).
How Cold? (at 750m)
4C dropping to 1C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits morning, then dropping to between 450 and 650m.
Planning Outlook
Further bouts of upland gales over the next few days. Precipitation on most mountains daily, focussed on western hills. Freeze thaw cycles will occur: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods fairly brief and snow accumulating on many slopes. Further south, lying snow more intermittent as periods of thaw will be lengthier. Temperature levels will rise from about next Tuesday and as pressure then builds, most or all mountain areas will then become largely fine.