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 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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 20th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 19th May 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy with strong gusts, briefly lighter early in Scottish Highlands. Morning showery rain and low cloud; improving afternoon as patchy sun breaks out, cloud lifting to high terrain with summit breaks, and most areas substantially dry by later afternoon. Low cloud lingers in Wales and NW Scotland.
Headline for Lake District
Windy; wet morning and hill cloud, drier afternoon with sun breaks
How windy? (On the summits)
West-southwesterly 30-35mph, may be quite gusty over tops and high passes, reaching up to 40mph at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure and often strenuous and feeling chilly; considerable buffeting over high terrain, balance challenged in strongest gusts.
How Wet?
Frequent rain, easing through afternoon
Light rain or drizzle will be quite persistent over high tops and western slopes until mid-afternoon. Broader areas of rain will drift from the west as well, these affecting all fells for periods, most frequent early. Easing as afternoon goes, little rain left by evening
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain, chance clearing summits later
Extensive at dawn, to low slopes on west fells. Bases rise after sunrise towards 700m, some breaks possible off high eastern summits during dry windows. Western slopes will struggle to clear above 700m until afternoon when cloud further rises and breaks into banks on high terrain, summit breaks later.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%, rising to 50% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of weak sun into early afternoon, then breaking into a patchwork. Visibility largely poor, a few better windows to the east, and more widely improving through afternoon.
How Cold? (at 750m)
6C rising to 8 or 9C, staying elevated into night. Feeling just below freezing in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 21st May 2026
Last updated
Tue 19th May 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 30-35mph. Gusts to 40-45mphover tops and elevated passes, also downslope to the east early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting gusts often challenging stability, including downslope early. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Morning rain, afternoon drizzle
Several hours of rain in the morning, briefly heavy on south and western fells. Rain breaks into a persistent drizzle on south and west slopes by afternoon, only fading later afternoon. Northern slopes drier sooner.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the south and west fells from 200-500m upward most of the day, a general rising trend in bases with time. Very low cloud to the north and east early too, but improving, bases rising towards 600m, or higher later in the day.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull with poor visibility. Some glimpses of brighter skies with improved visibility to the north and east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
8C rising to 10 or 11C, little change with added height. Feeling just above freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 22nd May 2026
Last updated
Tue 19th May 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 30-35mph; gusty, to 40mph early, downslope too. Easing to 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, particularly early; buffeting gusts challenge stability, lower terrain too, feeling chilly. Easing slightly.
How Wet?
Likely dry
Rising chance of some spots of rain here and there late in the day, but most fells dry during daylight.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud caps, perhaps largely clear
Some early banks of cloud at various heights, most likely south and west fells. Cloud lifts through morning, likely to just caps on the high summits, and breaks are probable.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mixed cloud and sun, some sunnier windows but weakened by high cloud. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
11 to 13C, rising towards 14C Blencathra. Feeling just above freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Pressure rises as the weekend approaches, facilitating south-southwesterly wind; much milder temperatures arriving, likely warm in England and Wales by the weekend. Blustery wind for a few days, quite gusty too, including to lower slopes early; still feeling chilly on high Scottish tops, and strongest gusts will challenge stability. Patchy rain and hill cloud will continue to affect Scotland as well, most often in the west. Increasingly dry and sunny England and Wales, but always with a risk of cloud and some rain, including early valley mist in sheltered areas. Higher pressure is indicated into next week as well. Precise detail of the high pressure core remains uncertain - the risk of strong wind and spells of rain possible for most areas, but also extended bright and warm periods too.