Lake District
The entire Lake District National Park, taking in all major summits, including Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, the Langdales and Old Man of Coniston.
Today'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.
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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.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread hail and snow showers, at times heavy with a risk of isolated lightning. Fewer showers in the N Pennines and southeast Scotland for a few morning hours, but returning afternoon. Gales widespread as well with sudden strong gusts, easing only slightly in Scotland. Cold, staying below freezing above 500-600m.
Headline for Lake District
Frequent snow and hail showers, most west; gales
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 40 to 45mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers, to 50mph; sustained speeds to 50mph on southern fells possible. Later in the day, speeds will trend lower in the north, 30-35mph north and eastern fells after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous most of the day with significant wind chill, often challenging in exposure during sudden strong gusts, requiring bracing to maintain stability. Conditions slightly improving late in the day.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, frequent to at times near-constant over coastal areas in the west, but extending across all the region; risk of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, will come and go all day above 800-900m, frequently capping high tops toward coast, patches at times to 600m. Clearing tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling for periods in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C, slight rise into afternoon, locally to 0C. Wind chill feeling like -15C or colder on high tops.
Freezing Level
500m from dawn, lifting to 700m, slightly higher away from showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North-northwesterly 20-30mph, shifting westerly and easing, 15mph, restrengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded with balance challenges on high exposed ridges early. Easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Substantially dry during daylight
Some spotty rain falls on the fells afternoon, some snow/refrozen rain mixed in, most fells likely stay dry. Evening into night, patches increase in frequency and turn to rain to tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Clear morning, cloud lowers through afternoon
The occasional cloud patch may graze the high fell tops, but most hills free of cloud through morning. A deck of cloud lowers onto the tops afternoon, further lowering and becoming extensive into night.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%, lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine early, high cloud gradually fills in from the west, trending overcast. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C, gradually rising, to 0C evening, then several degrees higher overnight. Feeling like -10 to -13C in early wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, some lower frosts likely too. A slight rise, then sharply lifting above the summits evening into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 20-30mph, up to 35mph early in the day; some notable gusts over high tops and ridges.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure, buffeting gusts affecting stability, particularly early. Feeling increasingly chilly.
How Wet?
Early rain soon breaks, few showers later
Persistent rain from overnight lingers into the morning, patchy east of Helvellyn. Rain breaks through the morning, dry for several hours, then a few scattered showers follow, falling as snow on the tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive from dawn, lifting to high summits
Extensive cloud from before dawn, likely 500m and upward. A breaking trend through morning as rain eases, some ragged patches linger but gradually clearing most slopes below 800m, often higher, though highest western summits may only briefly clear.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast early, patchy sunshine gradually breaking out. Visibility improving, mostly good, though a slight haze to the west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
4C at dawn, sharply dropping a few degrees morning, settling at 0C by dusk. Later, feeling like -10C in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits at dawn, lowering onto just the highest tops for noontime, to 700-800m around nightfall.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.