
Stay Home. Stay Safe.
Guidance is to exercise locally.
Getting outside for exercise is of course important, but please don't take any unnecessary risks, especially in the cold and icy weather.
By staying safe and staying local you can help reduce the pressure on our emergency services.
Help keep our emergency staff and hospital beds free for those that need them most.
Government guidance for National Lockdown
Fell Top Conditions on Monday 5 April
Readings from Helvellyn summit at 12:30
Temperature minus 5.9°C Maximum wind speed 39.2mph Wind chill minus 18.8°C Average wind speed 24.1mph Wind direction N
We have continued to provide the Fell Top Reports for people undertaking their daily exercise during the lockdown. We would like to remind everyone that Government guidance from 29th March is to minimise travel and to stay local.
A dramatic change in conditions on the Lake District fells with the arrival of a polar airmass giving a bitterly cold northerly wind and freezing temperatures. Windchill on the summit of Helvellyn today, despite the sunshine, was nearly -19 degrees C.
There was a scattering of new snow above 800m although this was thawing fast where exposed to the sun.
Wintery conditions are forecast to last until at least next weekend so walkers need to be fully prepared with plenty of warm & waterproof layers, hat & gloves, a reliable & suitable method of navigation, plenty of food & drink and an emergency kit including a mobile phone, survival bag and torch. If more snow does settle on the summits then carrying microspikes or crampons and an ice axe may be appropriate.
All Lakeland paths are currently clear of unavoidable snow with the overwhelming majority of the fells now totally clear. The few remaining patches of any significance lie mainly above 900m on predominantly steep N and E facing aspects. The exit slopes to both Striding & Swirral Edges are now easily climbed without setting foot on snow.
Following the freeze thaw action of the winter there is a lot of loose rock around especially on Swirral Edge. There has also been a landslip on the north side of Swirral which has taken part of the path with it
Please be conservative with your plans and know both your limits and also when to turn back.
This is the final Fell Top Assessor report of the 2020-21 season. Please respect, protect and enjoy the Lake District this summer and we'll be back for the first snows of next winter :)
Jon, Wes & Zac
Guidance is not to travel into this area from other areas and to exercise locally.
- Keep within your limits, walking in winter conditions takes longer than in summer.
- Be flexible, you may need to turn back, or choose a lower level walk.
- The weather on the felltops will be far colder and windier than at the bottom. Take extra layers, warm drinks, a torch, and a map and compass - and know how to use them.
- It gets dark around 5pm, when you need to be down from the felltops.
Lake District weather forecast for Thursday 22 April
See today's weather conditions on live Lake District webcams
Issued: 22 April at 02:39
Dry and sunny with light winds
Lake District Weather
Dry with unbroken sunshine, the sunshine perhaps turning a little hazy later in the day.
Visibility
Very good with good panoramic views of surrounding fells and lakes.
Chance of Cloud Free Hill Top
100%
Thursday'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 | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% |
At Valley | ||||||
Temp | 4 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Wind (mph) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Max gusts (mph) | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
Wind direction | SE | SE | SW | SW | W | E |
At 300m | ||||||
Temp | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
Wind (mph) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Max gusts (mph) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
Wind direction | S | S | S | SW | SW | SE |
At 600m | ||||||
Temp | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
Wind (mph) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
Max gusts (mph) | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 10 |
Wind direction | SW | S | SW | SW | SW | SE |
At 900m | ||||||
Temp | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (mph) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
Max gusts (mph) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 10 |
Wind direction | NE | SW | SW | SW | SW | SE |
Daylight
Provided by time.isLake District Forecast for Friday
Another dry and sunny day, the sunshine may be a little hazy at times. Again high UV levels bring a risk of sunburn.
Visibility
Very good with good panoramic views of surrounding fells and lakes.
Chance of cloud free hill
100%
Wind
Mainly easterly 10mph or less
Temperatures
- Valley: Close to freezing at first rising to plus 14 or 15 Celsius by day
- At 800m: Around plus 3 rising to plus 8 Celsius by day
- Freezing level: Above the summits
Outlook for next few days
Saturday 24 April
Dry with clear or sunny spells. Light mainly easterly winds.
Sunday 25 April
Another dry day with long clear or sunny spells. Light winds.
Monday 26 April
Some uncertainty but looking cloudier than recent days with perhaps a few spots of rain later. Mainly light winds.
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.