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
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 rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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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 rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Wednesday 17th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gales across the hills. Rain preceded by early snow on higher terrain in the Highlands, lifting briefly above freezing to high tops. Showery bursts follow into western Scotland, heavy and frequent with hail later. England & Wales sees rain much of the day, spreading eastward, heavy at times.
Headline for Lake District
Upland gales. Persistent rain, often heavy, low cloud.
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 45 to 60mph, powerful gusts in places downslope to north of higher fells. Starting to lessen a little only toward or beyond dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the fells, walking difficult in places higher up, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes.
How Wet?
Rain most of day, heaviest prolonged falls west & south Lakes
Rain soon setting in from dawn, persistent widely much of the day, heaviest south and western fells. Breaking up into showers into the evening. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate, renewed flooding likely develops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the fells widely all day, from mid-to-lower slopes west and southern areas, but rarely above higher tops even in north Lakes.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C rising during day to 5C. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but close to very highest tops above 900m early in day.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 35 to 50mph, but direction and speed likely to vary, possibly lower speeds for periods during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect arduous walking conditions and considerable wind chill on higher fells, but may lessen for periods.
How Wet?
Heavy rain likely setting in
Patchy showers mostly coastal areas, possibly drier for a time inland. Then persistent heavy rain likely moving in from southwest during day. Breaking up into showery rain and hail (snow high tops) evening into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, becoming extensive
Patchy cloud banks, most persistent south-facing areas, some breaks north Lakes in morning, but as rain sets in, widely lowering over hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, varied layers of high cloud, but visibility good where dry; becoming murky if rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C, then lowering to 1C into night. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, then dropping into the night to 800-900m.
Viewing Forecast For
Lake District
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, tending to lessen a little during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over higher fells, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail, snow highest tops
Showers most frequent west and southwestern fells, with hail, falling as snow on highest tops above 800m. Tending to fade during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Varying cloud bases, but often capping high tops above 800m in morning, some breaks more often afternoon. Clearer eastern Lakeland fells much of day.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun, most often N/E Lakes. Visibility often very good, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2 or 3C. Feeling like -12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Close to highest summits above 900m.
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. More heavy rain for England and Wales on Thursday, further flooding expected; rain spreads north into Scotland, falling as snow on Munros. Showery by Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives from the west into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.