Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Tuesday'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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread gales, severe early in Scotland. Showers in west Scotland, pushing east, turning snowy and setting in for a time. Near constant rain for Lakeland and Yorks Dales, becoming heavy with a rising flood risk. Rain spreads widely across England and Wales later, wind strengthens in Wales.
Headline for Lake District
Gales and near-constant rain, increasingly heavy with flood risk
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 55mph, risk 60mph. Easing towards 35-45mph for several hours around midday, may restrengthen at times across southern fells.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the fells in the morning, any mobility challenging in exposure with significant wind chill. Effects will ease slight but walking will remain strenuous in exposure, at least.
How Wet?
Heavy rain sets in
Often raining across the southern fells from dawn, some patches further north, setting in constantly for most of the afternoon with heavy falls. Rain starts turning to snow on high terrain evening into night. Becoming very wet underfoot and a risk of flooding, at least in the south and west.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the fells widely, from lower elevations upward west and south Lakes. Higher bases mostly above 600m northeastern areas, but then extensive cloud building here as well, 400m and up afternoon and locally lower.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, dull and murky in rain. Visibility increasingly very poor.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5 or 6C from morning into afternoon. Temperature begins to drop rapidly as evening approaches, towards 0C, lower after dark. Feeling like -12 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits for many hours, then rapid drop from northwest to 700m later in daytime, then 500-600m after dark.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 35 to 50mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting, often arduous over higher exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, frequent to at times near-constant over coastal areas in the west, but extending across all the region. Risk of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, will come and go all day above 800-900m, frequently capping high tops toward coast, patches at times to 600m. Clearing tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling for periods in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C, slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C on tops.
Freezing Level
500m from dawn, lifting to 700m, slightly higher away from showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 20-30mph early, gradually easing and shifting westerly, 10-15mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded with balance challenges on high exposed ridges early. Easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Daytime precipitation unlikely
Some patchy rain may approach the western fells as evening falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Little expected during daylight
The occasional cloud patch may graze the high fell tops, but most hills free of cloud until a deck of cloud arrives into nighttime.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine early, high cloud gradually fills in from the west, trending overcast. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -3C, gradually rising, to 0C evening, then several degrees above 0C overnight. Feeling like -10 to -13C in early wind.
Freezing Level
500-600m, some lower frosts likely too. A slight rise, then sharply lifting above the summits for several overnight hours.
Planning Outlook
Cold, wintry conditions across all mountains into midweek - significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. Hail and snow showers extend southwards into Wednesday, by then below freezing on all tops above 600-700m. Fewer showers by Thursday for many, though further snow then rain moves into western Scotland. Temperature and freezing level then varying as changeable westerlies prevail for Scotland through the weekend into early next week with periods of upland gales widely, accompanied by spells of rain, hill snow and hail showers; some windows of drier weather more often affect England & Wales.