Fell Top Conditions on Thursday 5 December
Readings from Helvellyn summit at 11:20
Temperature plus 1.2°C Maximum wind speed 45.6mph Wind chill minus 7.9°C Average wind speed 26.4mph Wind direction southwesterly
Strong to gale-force southwesterly winds were the main feature of today's weather. Winds increased from mid-morning and the cloud base dropped through the day with the arrival of heavy rain in the afternoon.
Milder temperatures have continued to melt the few fragmented patches of snow and ice that were present earlier in the week and all the main paths are clear.
Conditions on the top today were difficult with walking impeded by constant buffering and sideways rain. Wind chill was around -8°C making it feel cold. Straying close to steep ground in areas exposed to the wind ill-advised.
Lake District weather forecast for Friday 6 December
See today's weather conditions on live Lake District webcams
Issued: 6 December at 03:47
Cloud and morning rain clearing to sunny spells and showers.
Lake District Weather
Cloudy overnight with outbreaks of mostly light rain. A cloudy start with further outbreaks of mainly light rain, the rain tending to turn more showery during the late morning with the odd heavy and perhaps thundery one possible, but also some sunny spells developing. The showers are expected to become lighter and fewer and further between during the afternoon and evening but with an increasing risk of some wintriness on the higher fells. Cloud increasing again towards midnight.
Visibility
Good falling to several kilometres in rain and heavy showers.
Cloud Free Hill Top
Little chance for much of the morning with periods or persistent cloud above 450m with patches below but increasing to around 25% by midday with cloud lifting to become periods above 600m and then improving further to 75% in the afternoon with cloud more occasional above 750m.
Friday's forecast:
| Time | 06:00 - 09:00 | 09:00 - 12:00 | 12:00 - 15:00 | 15:00 - 18:00 | 18:00 - 21:00 | 21:00 - 24:00 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
| |
| Chance of precipitation | 70% | 70% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
| At Valley | ||||||
| Temp | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Wind (mph) | 12 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 34 | 37 | 27 | 25 | 29 | 28 |
| Wind direction | SW | SW | W | W | W | W |
| At 300m | ||||||
| Temp | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Wind (mph) | 12 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 34 | 37 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 30 |
| Wind direction | SW | SW | W | W | W | W |
| At 600m | ||||||
| Temp | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Wind (mph) | 34 | 36 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 43 | 47 | 33 | 31 | 36 | 34 |
| Wind direction | SW | SW | W | W | W | W |
| At 900m | ||||||
| Temp | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Wind (mph) | 44 | 44 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 32 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 51 | 53 | 40 | 37 | 42 | 40 |
| Wind direction | SW | SW | W | W | W | W |
Daylight
Provided by time.isLake District Forecast for Saturday
Cloudy through the early hours with patchy light rain and drizzle. Then a mostly cloudy day, perhaps some brighter spells in the east, with outbreaks of mainly light rain. However later in the afternoon and, more especially, through the evening the rain becoming more persistent and occasionally heavy.
Visibility
Good falling to several kilometres in rain and drizzle.
Hill cloud
Around 25% through the morning with periods above 600m and patches below, but nearer 60% in the east with cloud more occasional above 600m but becoming close to zero by late afternoon as cloud becomes more persistent above 450m and 300m at times over southwestern fells.
Wind
Westerly 30-35mph, gusts around 50mph possible over higher ridges and summits, increasing 40-50mph through the late afternoon and evening with gusts around 70mph possible over ridges and summits.
Temperatures
- Valley: Around plus 6 Celsius at dawn rising to plus 10 Celsius
- At 800m: Around plus 3 Celsius rising to plus 5 Celsius
- Freezing level: Above the summits
Outlook for next few days
Sunday 08 December
Clear or sunny spells and heavy, blustery showers with a risk of hail and thunder, the showers turning increasingly wintry above about 600m with risk of temporary blizzard conditions. Southwesterly gales, severe at times. Freezing level falling to 800m.
Monday 09 December
Overnight showers, falling mainly as snow above 450m, clearing through the morning to leave a mainly dry and sunny afternoon. Strong northwesterly winds easing. Freezing level falling to 600m.
Tuesday 10 December
Cloud and occasionally heavy rain, preceded for a time by snow, through much of the day clearing to showers later. Freezing level rising above the summits. Severe southerly gales developing, easing later..
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!
Make the most of the summer on a guided walk or navigation course
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.