Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Wednesday'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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra 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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly gale-force winds over high terrain in northern England and near west coast of Scotland; wind strengthening widely over the Highlands. Areas of persistent rain and heavy downpours becoming widespread for the Highlands, local thunderstorms. Frequent rain for northern England, less for Wales.
Headline for Lake District
Gales strengthen, powerful gusts. Often raining, showery.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwest later westerly, strengthening 30 to 40mph during the morning, reaching 50mph by middle of day into afternoon and onward, stronger gusts over 60mph around higher fells; slowly moderating into the night to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Worsening conditions, strenuous walking, becoming challenging then increasingly difficult mobility on high terrain into afternoon, gusts could knock you over. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain, chance of lightning
Showery rain frequent or merging into more constant falls particularly over west and southern Lakeland, but bursts of rain passing eastward to all areas, most often middle of day into afternoon. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Covering many higher slopes much of the day above 500-700m, lowest and most persistent in southwest and during rain. Some breaks forming where dry in east.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief sun breaking through mainly east. A general slight haze, reduced to poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
9 or 10C, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwest then westerly 20 to 25mph, at times 30mph higher fells mainly early morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Breezy over high terrain, starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on exposed ridges. Feeling noticeably cool.
How Wet?
Early showers fade
Showers from dawn into early morning, tending to fade to be often dry, rare light showers into middle of day onward. Patchy rain may develop from west onward into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking above tops
Cloud banks above 700-800m in the morning, most common west Lakeland. Lifting to higher tops then largely clearing the fells, odd patches on highest summits.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 750m)
7C rising to 10C afternoon. Feeling near to freezing if exposed to stronger wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 7th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
West-southwesterly 15-20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain fades
At dawn, drizzle over high terrain of south and west Lakes, some patchy rain drifting onto the fells as well, which may spread more widely for a few early hours. An easing trend, substantially dry afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, lifting to summits
All high terrain shrouded at dawn with cloud bases to middle slopes, most extensive south and west Lakes. Bases will rise, breaks increasingly above high eastern tops; banks will cling to highest summits, only brief breaks.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine increasingly breaking out but patchy cloud stays around. Visibility becomes very good.
How Cold? (at 750m)
9 or 10C, may rise slightly east fells.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail later this week and into the weekend and further weather fronts will come in off the Atlantic to bring low cloud and rain especially to western mountains in Scotland. A brief ridge of high pressure this Thursday offers a better day with the wind lessening for a time and fewer showers, but winds likely strengthen again by Friday, toward gale force over northwestern Scottish mountains at least. Heavy rain likely affects western Scotland on Saturday, becoming widely showery into Sunday. A brief window of improvement is indicated early next week, but a generally unsettled theme likely continues into mid-month.