Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Friday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
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
Friday 20th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gale-force southwesterlies. A rise of freezing level toward higher tops in Scotland, where early hill snow soon turns mostly to rain. Lifting above freezing to highest tops in England & Wales by dawn, a few hours of heavy rain. Clusters of heavy showers follow into all western areas with hail, a chance of thunder.
Headline for Lake District
Upland gales. Wet much of day, heavy rain for periods.
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 35 to 45mph, peak speeds fluctuate during day, but at times over 50mph with powerful squally gusts higher fells; shifting westerly later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with buffeting and significant wind chill; maintaining stability requires constant effort/crouching.
How Wet?
Often raining, heavy at times, with hail afternoon
A swathe of persistent rain from dawn into early morning, briefly sleet on high tops, widely heavy, most sustained toward southwest. Breaking into showers, but these clustering again into afternoon to more prolonged rain at times, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder. Wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable but fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds high terrain with bases to middle slopes most or all day to the west of highest tops. Filling in more widely during periods of rain, but breaks towards high tops possible too during cessation in rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy but some bright/sunny breaks will come and go, best east. Variable visibility, very good when out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C just at dawn, soon lifting to 3 or 4C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m up to dawn, but soon rising above the summits; beware of still frozen terrain on tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Saturday 21st February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 35 to 40mph, tending to strengthen further up to dusk, reaching 50mph, risk 60mph after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions, making balance challenging on exposed ridges, becoming widely difficult later.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle
Rain on and off, persistently drizzly at least much of the region, most constant rain toward west and southwest Lakes, likely heavier with time in afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanketing the hills all day, from lower elevations upward west and southwestern fells, rarely above 400-500m. Furthest northeast, bases toward 600m at times.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Hazy, visibility widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5C. Where exposed to stronger winds on tops, feeling like -7C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Sunday 22nd February 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Feb 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, frequent squally gusts in showers, toward 60mph on higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the fells, frequent buffeting making walking arduous in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain, hail
Showers, at times feeling more continuous, bursts of rain, some heavy with hail, particularly in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering the fells above 800m most of the time, but bases will vary in and out of showers, sometimes forming to 600m or lower near coast. Occasional breaks higher up mainly eastern fells.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly toward east. Visibility intermittently very good, but reduced to occasionally poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Southwesterly winds brings milder conditions into this weekend - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales with substantial thawing, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing to Munro summits will occur but also further snowfall and refreezing on higher terrain during the day-to-day variability of precipitation and freezing levels onward into early next week. Likely colder later next week, back below freezing on higher terrain for a run of days. Often windy with periods of upland gales. Some spells of heavy rain over all western hills and low cloud frequently covering the hills.