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Fell Top Conditions on Friday 14 February

Readings from Crinkle Crags (Long Top) 859m at 09:45

Temperature minus 5.7°C Maximum wind speed 28.5mph Wind chill minus 15.2°C Average wind speed 20mph Wind direction SE

Readings today are from Long Top, Crinkle Crags, Langdale. Conditions on Helvellyn will be similar to the last few days reports with full winter snow and ice plastering the summit plateau, Swirral & Striding Edges.

Cold conditions across the National Park have held onto the snow that fell down to 600m on Wednesday night. This is apparent on footpaths above 700m. It fell onto very dry and frozen ground. There is very little melt - freeze ice, though occasional old snow patches were encountered and can easily be avoided.

The footpaths are firm to walk on and with a covering of 2cm of dry snow they are not too slippery. There is far less rime ice (feathered ice features) in this part of the Lakes as well. Notably was the bitterly cold wind chill (-15 deg/c) and fleeting poor visibility on the highest of peaks.

Snow, ice and mixed conditions were popular on Helvellyn yesterday (Thursday) for the winter climbers with teams on both the faces and gullies

Lake District Forecast for Sunday

Sunday will see the colder conditions likely to dominate, another cloudy day with some outbreaks of light snow and sleet and a very dull and damp day. Stronger southeasterly winds will enhance the considerable windchill and it will feel bitterly cold on the fells.

Visibility

Broken low cloud layers in the morning above 300m, these will lift and thin gradually during the afternoon with some brightness possible for northern fells by mid afternoon and some better visibility here too. Poor visibility in the morning in sleet and drizzle but becoming moderate in the afternoon in the south and perhaps good in the north from mid afternoon.

Chance of cloud free hill

10% increasing to 30% by late afternoon.

Wind

Southeasterly 25-30 mph.

Temperatures

  • Valley: Plus 1 rising to 4 Celsius.
  • At 800m: Minus 2 Celsius
  • Freezing level: 600m

Outlook for next few days

Monday 17 February

A cloud dull start but some brighter conditions developing but mostly remaining cloudy, perhaps some light snow and drizzle later in the afternoon. Fresh or strong southeasterly winds continuing and feeling very cold. Freezing level 200m

Tuesday 18 February

Fresh southeasterly winds continuing with cold air to the east and milder air to the west but most of the Lake District staying in the colder air, mainly cloudy with some early drizzle.

Wednesday 19 February

Strong southerly winds with the slightly milder air expected to move across the area, still cloudy with the risk of outbreaks of rain.

An overview of weather in the Lake District

Summer:

The summer season in the Lake District actually runs from March to October. The driest period runs between March and June.

The weather is renowned for changing rapidly and rainfall is a predominant feature. The wettest area in the Lake District is known as Sprinkling Tarn which receives approximately 5000mm of rainfall every year!

Winter:

The wettest months run from October to January.

Snowfall typically falls from November to March. The valleys of the Lake District receive around 20 days of snow and 200 days of rain per year.

Enjoy the fells safely on a winter skills course