Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Saturday'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 snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Feeling bitterly cold in gale-force west-northwesterly winds widely, severe gales on higher Scottish mountains. Extensive showers with hail, snow, chance of isolated thunder, locally grouping into more constant precipitation NW Highlands, also N England in morning; intensity of showers easing during afternoon.
Headline for Lake District
Upland gales. Hail and snow showers.
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 35 to 50mph, squally gusts, strongest in the morning. A brief lessening by evening-night, then gales then likely return later in night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking over the fells, more difficult in places on high exposed terrain, frequent buffeting affecting balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Around and just after dawn, a cluster of frequent snow and hail passing southeastward; chance isolated lightning. Then showery, brief hail, snow falling in morning to some lower elevations, with time mostly rain below 600m. Fewer and lighter showers afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, lifting higher
Varied cloud capping higher slopes in the morning above 600-800m, lowest around showers in western areas. Lifting above higher slopes increasingly often into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun. Visibility often very good, but reduced at times to briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1C rising to +1C afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
600-700m in morning, plus frost in sheltered glens around dawn, rising to 900m in afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Sunday 29th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 55-70mph with stronger gusts during morning, then westerly 40-50mph into afternoon, squally gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions for a time, remaining difficult on higher fells, mobility challenging in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain soon heavy, later showery
A swathe of rain moving in from west soon from dawn, sleet or brief snow on tops. A more intense band moving southeastwards into middle of day. Then showery rain, later snow high tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest in rain, rising later
Covering the higher fells fairly widely, lowering to 500-600m particularly south and west in rain. Then rising later in day with some breaks forming to tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, late bursts of sun develop. Visibility very poor in rain, improving later to intermittently very good out of showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1C rising briefly to 3C middle of day, by evening dropping toward 0C. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Rising up to dawn to be above freezing to the tops by mid-morning. By evening, dropping back toward 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
West to northwesterly, 40 to 50mph, strongest in the morning, gusts 60mph for a time higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking difficult on exposed higher terrain, considerable buffeting, gusts knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
A few light showers
Brief light showers, snow flurries above 500m, mostly in the morning and toward west, tending to fade.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to higher tops, breaks inland
Cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, mostly above 600-700m in morning, tending to rise. Patches come and go on high western tops, clearer elsewhere. Will then lower from southwest into night.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most common east. Visibility mostly good, slight haze west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C rising to 2 or 3C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700m from dawn, rising above the tops into afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Changeable westerlies prevail onward into early next week, continuing gales over most high terrain. Milder air lifts above freezing to all tops into Tuesday with low cloud, drizzle and rain, most persistent west-northwest Scotland. Likely colder again in Scotland by Wednesday with some further hill snow likely. Some windows of better weather mid-late in the week as higher pressure is nearby - temperatures vary above and just below freezing on Highland tops, more often above freezing England and Wales tops. Some chilly air possible during early April, but drier conditions likely developing with time with more spring sunshine.