Fell Top Conditions on Sunday 22 December
Readings from Red Screes summit (776m) at 12:00
Temperature minus 0.1°C Maximum wind speed 45.4mph Wind chill minus 9.8°C Average wind speed 28.5mph Wind direction NW
The Lake District National Park has a coating of decorative fresh snow down to 370m. At this level and up to 650m it appears quiet wet with melt water running underneath on rocky ground and slabs. Above this height snow is consistently at least 3cm in depth with any depressions, hollows and rocks pillowed on the lee side (out of the wind) with snow. Whilst streams are flowing, surfaces have frozen with a mixture of verglas (black ice) and rime ice (water droplets freezing and building on a surface). Popular paths have compacted tracks on them and it is easy to avoid or break through any ice with a sturdy boot. Micro-spikes, fitted over boots, are a great alternative. Small tarns are partly icing over.
Wind strength, building through the afternoon, not only brought painful blizzard snow showers, where goggles were helpful, but also a bitterly cold wind chill, finding any exposed skin. Navigation will have needed to be accurate, using both map and compass, in occasional white out conditions.
Despite a lull on Monday morning, deteriorating conditions in the afternoon will strip a lot of snow with rain and a rise in temperature. Winter clothing and mountain safety kit, including a map and compass, will still need to be packed.
Lake District weather forecast for Monday 23 December
See today's weather conditions on live Lake District webcams
Issued: 23 December at 02:16
A bright morning. Low cloud and patchy rain arriving in afternoon. Lighter winds than of late.
Lake District Weather
Dry with long clear spells overnight and gales easing by morning. A sunny start but cloud will increase later in the morning. Outbreaks of light rain or drizzle will spread east during the afternoon. This preceded by a little snow above 600m before much milder air arrives.
Visibility
Excellent visibility in the morning with clear summits. Deteriorating during the afternoon rain or snow with cloud becoming extensive on the tops at first before lowering to 300 or 400m, then to lower slopes by evening in the south and west.
Chance of Cloud Free Hill Top
90% in the morning becoming 10% or less in the afternoon.
Monday'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 |
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 |
 |
 |
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| |
| Chance of precipitation | <05% | 00% | 50% | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| At Valley | ||||||
| Temp | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Wind (mph) | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 27 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 11 |
| Wind direction | NW | NW | W | SW | SW | SW |
| At 300m | ||||||
| Temp | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Wind (mph) | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 28 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 16 |
| Wind direction | NW | NW | W | SW | S | SW |
| At 600m | ||||||
| Temp | -0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Wind (mph) | 19 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 15 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 29 | 20 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 20 |
| Wind direction | NW | W | SW | SW | SW | SW |
| At 900m | ||||||
| Temp | -2 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Wind (mph) | 36 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 21 | 23 |
| Max gusts (mph) | 40 | 28 | 21 | 29 | 26 | 27 |
| Wind direction | N | NW | SW | SW | S | SW |
Daylight
Provided by time.isLake District Forecast for Tuesday
A very mild and misty Christmas Eve. Cloud and fog will be extensive at height with occasional light rain or drizzle. The far east of the Lake District favouring the drier conditions.
Visibility
Very poor visibility even at modest elevations with extensive cloud above 200 or 300m. Cloud perhaps lifting slightly at times in the east.
Chance of cloud free hill
Nil.
Wind
Southwest 15 to 20mph gusts 30mph.
Temperatures
- Valley: Plus 9C rising to 12C.
- At 800m: Plus 7C.
- Freezing level: Well above summits.
Outlook for next few days
Wednesday 25 December
A mild and cloudy Christmas Day with a little light rain or drizzle at times. Some brighter interludes possible in the east in the afternoon. Strong southwest winds on the tops.
Thursday 26 December
Mainly dry and rather cloudy but a few bright intervals are possible. Lighter southwest winds. Mild.
Friday 27 December
Similar to Thursday. Mild and rather cloudy southwesterly airflow. Mainly dry, perhaps the odd spot 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.