Mountain Weather
Information Service
Lake District Forecast

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

Windy, walking impeded
Frequent or persistent rain
Poor visibility
Warm

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM Last Updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM Last Updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM

Viewing Forecast For

Lake District
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Last updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Much of the Highlands sees a fine day with fairly light winds; a veil of high cloud tends to thicken, risk of some rain later. S Scotland & N England has more cloud, some rain. Heavier rain moves across Wales into Peak District, followed by showers on a strong southwesterly wind, quite humid.

Headline for Lake District

Rain on and off, tops often shrouded; increasingly windy.

How windy? (On the summits)

Southwest turning southerly 15-25mph, gusty, and strengthening, gusts 35mph possible for a few hours into afternoon. Then shifting southwesterly again, typically 25-30mph later, but rising further during evening 35-40mph with little change onward into night.

Effect of the wind on you?

Varying, but ease of walking impacted, buffeting gusts affect stability at times and more strenuous conditions in exposure, more constant later in day and onward into night; feeling chilly.

How Wet?

Periods of rain during the day

Rain frequent with some heavy bursts mixed in. Tending to fade for a time to be patchy and mostly drizzly, best drier windows north & east. During afternoon, some steadier rain likely returns widely, heaviest southwest fells.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive, some breaks mainly northeast

Blanket cloud often above 600m, best chance of breaks for a few hours if dry toward Ullswater and Blencathra. More often shrouded in southwest Lakes to lower slopes much of the day, patches into valleys during heaviest rain and widely likely to fill in through afternoon.

Chance of cloud free summits?

10% south and west, to 30% northeast.

Sunshine and air clarity?

Overcast, dull on high terrain with poor visibility all day, local improvements mainly northeast Lakes.

How Cold? (at 750m)

10C rising to 13C, staying elevated into night; increasingly humid. Feeling like 2 to 4C in strongest wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Lake District
Thursday 3rd September 2026
Last updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Southwesterly 25-40mph, variable, and may ease for a time, but a swathe of stronger wind returns late/into night.

Effect of the wind on you?

Walking impeded, strenuous moments with notable wind chill; brief improvement, but deteriorating late/into night.

How Wet?

Patchy rain, setting in later

Patchy rain drifts from the west much of the day, some early drizzle on high terrain. Falls generally light, and best of dry windows on east fells. Later, rain sets in persistently and heavy, notably into night.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive, locally improving

Extensive to start, to middle slopes widely and low slopes to the west. Bases will lift, best near and north of Helvellyn, a rising chance of breaks to tops here. Staying fairly extensive south and west Lakeland, and may more widely fill in later.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

A few bright glimpses on northeastern fells, but more often cloudy. Good visibility if out of cloud, some haze towards coasts.

How Cold? (at 750m)

10 or 11C. Feeling just above freezing in strongest wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Lake District
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated Tue 1st Sep 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

West-southwesterly 35 to 50mph, stronger gusts to 60mph at times higher fells, greater risk afternoon.

Effect of the wind on you?

Arduous walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Considerable wind chill.

How Wet?

Rain on and off

Overnight heavy rain likely clears southward by dawn, but patchy rain and drizzle likely to come and go throughout the day, most frequent in western Lakes, some showery moments mixed in.

Cloud on the hills?

Varying over tops

Cloud banks likely to often cap higher fells particularly in western areas above 700-800m, some higher bases more often afternoon, breaks forming at times.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30% west, to 60% east.

Sunshine and air clarity?

Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun mostly east. Visibility often good, but reduced at times in rain, mostly in west.

How Cold? (at 750m)

8 or 9C, little change all day. Directly in wind feeling like -3C.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Planning Outlook

A series of weather systems moves in from the Atlantic this week and next to bring spells of rain and showers, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather is likely this Saturday for Scotland and northern England, but further rain is expected to move into Wales, which then extends north by Saturday night and Sunday, possibly widely heavy rain and a risk of more powerful upland gales developing over Scotland into Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but some cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops close to freezing point.