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
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Wednesday 6th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
After a hard frost, mostly dry and bright, but feeling increasingly bitterly cold as southeasterly winds strengthen and cloud thicken through the day ahead of a front, which will bring and increasing risk of upland snowfall, in across western mountains toward evening, and then spreading to all parts overnight.
Headline for Lake District
Bitter chill in strengthening southeast winds. Dry, but snow soon after dusk.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly, strengthening through day from around 25mph after dawn to 35 to 45mph before dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult, in places on lower slopes, and feeling bitterly cold as wind chill becomes significant.
How Wet?
Dry much of day, but snow after dusk.
Very likely dry through daylight, but then fronts edging in from southwest after dusk will bring increasing threat of persistent snow. Time of onset uncertain, most likely not until after dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Hills cloud free; but cloud lowering onto the hills late on.
Most fells cloud free, possibly for much the day. But patchy cloud higher slopes south lakes will tend to lower toward 500m from late afternoon and increasingly cap higher tops north lakes.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80% lowering to 20% late in the day.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine giving way from south as cloud thickens. Visibility very good although increasingly hazy and appalling in overnight snow.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C. Will feel as cold as minus 16C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Almost all terrain frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 7th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Very turbulent conditions developing. Southeasterly winds; lifting through day to 50 to 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly very difficult conditions, as turbulent and very powerful winds accelerate over the fells.
How Wet?
Rain, or for a time snow or refrozen rain.
Frequent spells of rain, for a time early in the day falling as snow to mid or upper slopes, or even refrozen rain. Will revert to rain at all levels as day progresses.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud widely shrouding the fells from lower slopes upwards.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Poor or very poor visibilities.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1C, tending to lift to plus 2C. Feeling closer to -15C in exposure to the wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m at dawn, tending to lift above tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 8th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southeasterly 25 to 35mph in the morning, perhaps locally 40mph tops at first, but easing out in the afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for fairly arduous conditions in the morning with significant wind chill, but conditions easing in the afternoon.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle on and off
As an area of low pressure tracks across through the day, areas of rain and drizzle will circulate around giving precipitation on and off, some may well be heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Very likely that cloud will shroud the fells extensively through the day, and at times down to lower slopes in the rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast. Rather murky through the day.
How Cold? (at 750m)
Around 3C, but feeling closer to -10C in direct exposure to the strongest winds early in the day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, with terrain thawing out.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions will prevail over the next week to 10 days, with periods of upland gales or severe gales with precipitation frequent, mostly rain, although intermittently snow Scottish Highlands, more rarely elsewhere. Driest conditions (relative to the average) will likely be in the northwest Highlands, given the often backed flow, as the low pressure areas track in.