hikes.guideLake District

Which day looks best for the fells over the next two weeks?

Which day looks best for the fells over the next two weeks?

A two-week walking outlook for the Lake District fells, scored the same way as our live Conditions page (which covers today and tomorrow in high-resolution detail) — clear summits, wind, rain and visibility — so you can answer the planning question: I can go some weekend in the next couple of weeks; which looks best? This is modelled guidance, and accuracy falls off the further ahead you look — always check MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.

Loading the latest outlook… If this line does not change, the dated snapshot further down this page is what we have.

Today and tomorrow: ConditionsThe next two weeks: this pageBefore you set off: Met Office mountain (opens in new tab) and MWIS (opens in new tab)

Find your best window

Best for your dates. Tell us when you can go and for how long, and we rank the runs of days that suit, for the region you choose. The line above is the best two days anywhere in the Park; this is the best window you can actually take.

How sure is the forecast?

A forecast is one run of a weather model. Here are fifty. Where they land together you can plan on it; where they scatter, the weather has not made its mind up and no forecast can tell you more yet. Six areas, fifteen days, rain first.

Run: Thursday 10 September 2026, 12:00 UTC · GEFS run 10 Sep 12:00Z, 31 members. Read at 22:46 UTC.

10–90% of the 50 runsMedian runGEFS median (31 members)all drysplitall wet

North

Keswick, Skiddaw, Blencathra

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm5 mm10 mm15 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for 3 days, then split from Mon 14.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 136 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 1430 of 50split
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 1623 of 50split
  7. Thu 174 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 1819 of 50split
  9. Sat 1913 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2020 of 50split
  11. Mon 2120 of 50split
  12. Tue 2222 of 50split
  13. Wed 2321 of 50split
  14. Thu 2420 of 50split
  15. Fri 2518 of 50split
  1. 13°12–1318km/h
  2. 11°10–1111km/h
  3. 14°12–1513km/h
  4. 13°11–148km/h
  5. 13°12–1523km/h
  6. 11°10–1219km/h
  7. 12°11–1327km/h
  8. 10°8–1317km/h
  9. 11°8–1416km/h
  10. 10°8–1213km/h
  11. 11°8–1415km/h
  12. 11°8–1514km/h
  13. 10°8–1414km/h
  14. 10°7–1412km/h
  15. 10°7–1413km/h

North-west

Buttermere, Grasmoor, Loweswater

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm5 mm10 mm15 mm20 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for 3 days, then split from Mon 14.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 136 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 1423 of 50split
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 1618 of 50split
  7. Thu 172 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 1819 of 50split
  9. Sat 1912 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2020 of 50split
  11. Mon 2117 of 50most wet
  12. Tue 2219 of 50split
  13. Wed 2319 of 50split
  14. Thu 2421 of 50split
  15. Fri 2516 of 50most wet
  1. 13°13–1418km/h
  2. 12°12–1217km/h
  3. 14°12–1512km/h
  4. 14°12–1514km/h
  5. 14°13–1625km/h
  6. 12°10–1319km/h
  7. 13°12–1431km/h
  8. 11°9–1417km/h
  9. 12°10–1524km/h
  10. 11°9–1316km/h
  11. 12°9–1518km/h
  12. 11°9–1515km/h
  13. 11°8–1516km/h
  14. 11°8–1415km/h
  15. 11°8–1515km/h

Central

Ambleside, Grasmere, Helvellyn

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm10 mm20 mm30 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for the whole fortnight.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 130 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 146 of 50all wet
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 164 of 50all wet
  7. Thu 171 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 185 of 50all wet
  9. Sat 1911 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2013 of 50most wet
  11. Mon 2110 of 50most wet
  12. Tue 2217 of 50most wet
  13. Wed 2313 of 50most wet
  14. Thu 2414 of 50most wet
  15. Fri 2514 of 50most wet
  1. 12°11–1215km/h
  2. 9–1011km/h
  3. 13°11–148km/h
  4. 12°10–138km/h
  5. 12°11–1418km/h
  6. 10°8–1015km/h
  7. 11°10–1223km/h
  8. 7–1212km/h
  9. 10°8–1215km/h
  10. 8–1210km/h
  11. 7–1312km/h
  12. 7–139km/h
  13. 7–1312km/h
  14. 6–1310km/h
  15. 6–1310km/h

East

Ullswater, High Street, Kentmere

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm5 mm10 mm15 mm20 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for 5 days, then split from Wed 16.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 134 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 1412 of 50most wet
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 1622 of 50split
  7. Thu 174 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 1813 of 50most wet
  9. Sat 1911 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2015 of 50most wet
  11. Mon 2113 of 50most wet
  12. Tue 2223 of 50split
  13. Wed 2319 of 50split
  14. Thu 2420 of 50split
  15. Fri 2520 of 50split
  1. 12°12–1314km/h
  2. 10°9–1011km/h
  3. 14°11–158km/h
  4. 12°10–149km/h
  5. 12°12–1516km/h
  6. 10°8–1113km/h
  7. 12°11–1222km/h
  8. 8–1312km/h
  9. 10°8–1317km/h
  10. 8–1210km/h
  11. 10°8–1414km/h
  12. 10°7–149km/h
  13. 7–1311km/h
  14. 6–149km/h
  15. 10°6–1411km/h

South-west

Wasdale, Scafell, Eskdale

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm10 mm20 mm30 mm40 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for the whole fortnight.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 130 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 144 of 50all wet
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 160 of 50all wet
  7. Thu 170 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 183 of 50all wet
  9. Sat 198 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2011 of 50most wet
  11. Mon 2111 of 50most wet
  12. Tue 2214 of 50most wet
  13. Wed 2313 of 50most wet
  14. Thu 2412 of 50most wet
  15. Fri 2512 of 50most wet
  1. 12°11–1216km/h
  2. 10°10–1116km/h
  3. 13°11–1411km/h
  4. 12°10–1312km/h
  5. 12°11–1421km/h
  6. 10°9–1117km/h
  7. 11°11–1225km/h
  8. 8–1215km/h
  9. 10°8–1319km/h
  10. 8–1212km/h
  11. 10°8–1315km/h
  12. 10°7–1413km/h
  13. 10°7–1415km/h
  14. 7–1313km/h
  15. 10°7–1314km/h

South

Coniston, Windermere, Duddon

Rain each day, mm, across the fifty runs

0 mm5 mm10 mm15 mm20 mmRain, mm in 24 hFri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 2510–90% of 50 runs

The runs agree for 5 days, then split from Wed 16.

  1. Fri 110 of 50all wet
  2. Sat 120 of 50all wet
  3. Sun 133 of 50all wet
  4. Mon 149 of 50most wet
  5. Tue 150 of 50all wet
  6. Wed 1619 of 50split
  7. Thu 175 of 50all wet
  8. Fri 1813 of 50most wet
  9. Sat 1910 of 50most wet
  10. Sun 2013 of 50most wet
  11. Mon 2111 of 50most wet
  12. Tue 2219 of 50split
  13. Wed 2320 of 50split
  14. Thu 2419 of 50split
  15. Fri 2514 of 50most wet
  1. 14°13–1415km/h
  2. 12°12–1310km/h
  3. 15°13–1610km/h
  4. 14°12–155km/h
  5. 14°13–1617km/h
  6. 12°11–1313km/h
  7. 14°13–1424km/h
  8. 11°10–1413km/h
  9. 12°9–1516km/h
  10. 11°10–1410km/h
  11. 12°10–1613km/h
  12. 12°8–169km/h
  13. 12°8–1510km/h
  14. 11°8–1510km/h
  15. 12°8–1510km/h

How to read this

Nobody knows the exact state of the atmosphere at any moment, so the forecasters at ECMWF run their model fifty times, each time nudging the starting weather a little. Every one of those runs is a fair guess. When all fifty put rain on Tuesday, it is going to rain on Tuesday. When twenty say dry and thirty say wet, that is not the model being vague; it is the weather genuinely not settled yet, and any forecast that sounds sure about that day is guessing.

The grey band on each chart is where most of the runs sit for that day. The line through it is the middle run. The boxes underneath count how many of the fifty stayed dry, which is the number I actually look at when I have one free Saturday.

One square of this model covers a valley and the fells around it, roughly 28 km by 16 km, so it tells you how settled the weather is over an area, not what one summit will do. The fell-by-fell snapshot and the regional outlook stay as they are. This sits beside them and says how far to trust them.

Contains modified ECMWF open data (CC BY 4.0) and NOAA GEFS data. Sources and licences.

The season ahead

The fifty runs again, but stretched: six weeks ahead from ECMWF’s extended ensemble and seven months from its seasonal system. Not a forecast of any day. What it can say is whether the runs lean milder or colder, wetter or drier, than the normal for these fells, and how many of them agree. Seasonal skill in north-west England is modest; what the system does reasonably in winter is the Atlantic’s mood, mild-and-wet against cold-and-clear, and that is the question this answers.

Read at 08:20 UTC, 8 September 2026. The six-week read refreshes every night, the months on the 5th. The six-week read is more than three days old and is not shown.

North

Keswick, Skiddaw, Blencathra

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 2 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 6 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
34 of 50most
36 of 50most
32 of 50split
26 of 50split
32 of 50split
27 of 50split
31 of 50split
Wetter than normalruns of 50
35 of 50most
16 of 50few
28 of 50split
31 of 50split
23 of 50split
19 of 50split
24 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+1 km/hwindier
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-12 MJ/m²duller
+5 MJ/m²brighter
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-7 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
about usual
-0.015drier ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
-0.2 cmless snow
-1.9 cmless snow
+0.6 cmmore snow
-0.3 cmless snow
-2.2 cmless snow
-1.4 cmless snow

Drier in Oct, which is when those same tops are worth having: Mungrisdale Common, Great Calva, Bakestall, Brae Fell, Great Cockup, Great Sca Fell and 9 more rated often boggy.

North-west

Buttermere, Grasmoor, Loweswater

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 3 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 5 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
38 of 50most
35 of 50most
32 of 50split
28 of 50split
31 of 50split
28 of 50split
33 of 50most
Wetter than normalruns of 50
34 of 50most
16 of 50few
27 of 50split
32 of 50split
23 of 50split
19 of 50split
25 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+1 km/hwindier
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-17 MJ/m²duller
+6 MJ/m²brighter
about usual
about usual
-2 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-5 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
+0.025wetter ground
-0.010drier ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
about usual
-0.6 cmless snow
-0.5 cmless snow
+0.2 cmmore snow
-1.8 cmless snow
-1.5 cmless snow

Ground wetter than the model’s usual in Sep: the tops here that are boggy in an ordinary winter go under first, Broom Fell, Lord's Seat, Robinson, Graystones, Ling Fell, Barrow and 3 more rated often boggy. Drier in Oct, when those same tops are worth having.

Central

Ambleside, Grasmere, Helvellyn

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 3 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 5 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
37 of 50most
37 of 50most
33 of 50most
29 of 50split
31 of 50split
28 of 50split
32 of 50split
Wetter than normalruns of 50
35 of 50most
17 of 50few
27 of 50split
32 of 50split
25 of 50split
20 of 50split
24 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+2 km/hwindier
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-17 MJ/m²duller
+6 MJ/m²brighter
-2 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-5 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
+0.054wetter ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
about usual
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.1 cmless snow
-2.0 cmless snow
-1.3 cmless snow

Ground wetter than the model’s usual in Sep: the tops here that are boggy in an ordinary winter go under first, High Tove, Ullscarf, Armboth Fell, High Seat, Calf Crag, Great Crag and 12 more rated often boggy.

East

Ullswater, High Street, Kentmere

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 4 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 6 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
35 of 50most
35 of 50most
35 of 50most
27 of 50split
34 of 50most
29 of 50split
32 of 50split
Wetter than normalruns of 50
37 of 50most
17 of 50few
30 of 50split
30 of 50split
22 of 50split
19 of 50split
23 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+1 km/hwindier
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-12 MJ/m²duller
+5 MJ/m²brighter
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-7 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
+0.025wetter ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
-0.3 cmless snow
-1.7 cmless snow
+0.5 cmmore snow
-0.9 cmless snow
-2.8 cmless snow
-1.8 cmless snow

Ground wetter than the model’s usual in Sep: the tops here that are boggy in an ordinary winter go under first, The Nab, Loadpot Hill, Sour Howes, Wether Hill, Branstree, Rest Dodd and 21 more rated often boggy.

South-west

Wasdale, Scafell, Eskdale · the same 36 km cell as Central at this resolution

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 3 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 5 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
37 of 50most
37 of 50most
33 of 50most
29 of 50split
31 of 50split
28 of 50split
32 of 50split
Wetter than normalruns of 50
35 of 50most
17 of 50few
27 of 50split
32 of 50split
25 of 50split
20 of 50split
24 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+2 km/hwindier
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-17 MJ/m²duller
+6 MJ/m²brighter
-2 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-5 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
+0.054wetter ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
about usual
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.1 cmless snow
-2.0 cmless snow
-1.3 cmless snow

Ground wetter than the model’s usual in Sep: the tops here that are boggy in an ordinary winter go under first, Lank Rigg, Hen Comb, Burnbank Fell, Caw Fell, Gavel Fell, Seatallan and 9 more rated often boggy.

South

Coniston, Windermere, Duddon · the same 36 km cell as Central at this resolution

The coming months ECMWF seasonal system, 50 runs, refreshed on the 5th

Milder than normal in 3 of the 7 months, the rest split; wetter in 1 month and drier in 1, the rest split. Snow: less than the model’s usual for its cell in 5 months, which reads as fewer white days on the tops.

Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2027
Feb
Mar
Warmer than normalruns of 50
37 of 50most
37 of 50most
33 of 50most
29 of 50split
31 of 50split
28 of 50split
32 of 50split
Wetter than normalruns of 50
35 of 50most
17 of 50few
27 of 50split
32 of 50split
25 of 50split
20 of 50split
24 of 50split
Windmodel’s own average
+2 km/hwindier
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
about usual
about usual
-1 km/hcalmer
about usual
Sunshinemodel’s own average
-17 MJ/m²duller
+6 MJ/m²brighter
-2 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-3 MJ/m²duller
about usual
-5 MJ/m²duller
Groundtopsoil, model’s own average
+0.054wetter ground
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
about usual
Snowmodel’s cell, its own average
about usual
about usual
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.3 cmless snow
-0.1 cmless snow
-2.0 cmless snow
-1.3 cmless snow

Ground wetter than the model’s usual in Sep: the tops here that are boggy in an ordinary winter go under first, Seathwaite Fell, Illgill Head, Rossett Pike, Whin Rigg.

How to read this

Everything here is measured against the model’s own average for that cell, the years it was trained on. “43 of 50” means forty-three of the fifty runs put that week warmer than the model’s usual September week there; a split row means the runs have not made their minds up, which seven weeks out is the honest state most of the time. The rows below the counts, wind, sunshine, ground and snow, are the same lean as one signed figure. What a normal month looks like on these fells in real years is the climatology further down this page.

One cell is a valley and the fells around it, 36 km across and lower than the tops. A snow row appears only when a week or a month carries a snow lean; when there is none on the horizon there is no row, and that absence is the reading.

Seasonal outlook: ECMWF EC46 and SEAS5 through Open-Meteo, not bias-corrected, an area forecast on a 36 km grid that sits lower than the tops; leans and run counts are against the model's own climatology for the cell. Sources and licences.

The Regional Outlook

Loading the outlook…

Bars pale and take on a hatch further ahead — that is the forecast getting less certain, not a different verdict. Colours are colour-blind-safe: Save it is grey, not red.

Snapshot taken 11 September 2026, 08:03 UTC. The live outlook loads over this when the page opens; if you are reading this, you are seeing the snapshot.

Eastern Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Eastern Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal34 mph7°C5% (0.5 mm)poor
Sat 12 SepSave it56 mph12°C97% (18.5 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking14 mph12°C11% (0 mm)11 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal38 mph13°C74% (0.9 mm)6 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal45 mph6°C83% (1.3 mm)6 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal41 mph6°C61% (2.3 mm)6 km
Thu 17 SepSave it52 mph4°C88% (4.0 mm)5 km
Fri 18 SepSave it51 mph4°C30% (6.2 mm)3 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal48 mph4°C66% (5.2 mm)5 km
Sun 20 SepDecent45 mph5°C47% (0 mm)27 km
Mon 21 SepSave it39 mph10°C49% (4.8 mm)1 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal43 mph5°C43% (2.8 mm)1 km
Wed 23 SepMarginal46 mph2°C49% (0.6 mm)20 km
Thu 24 SepDecent45 mph1°C42% (0 mm)41 km
Fri 25 SepCracking13 mph5°C31% (0 mm)24 km

Far Eastern Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Far Eastern Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal28 mph10°C1% (0.5 mm)3 km
Sat 12 SepSave it54 mph12°C92% (16.3 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking12 mph13°C11% (0 mm)6 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal38 mph13°C61% (2.0 mm)4 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal41 mph10°C57% (0.8 mm)16 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal40 mph6°C29% (2.1 mm)5 km
Thu 17 SepMarginal44 mph5°C74% (2.8 mm)7 km
Fri 18 SepMarginal42 mph5°C19% (4.0 mm)5 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal39 mph5°C54% (5.4 mm)5 km
Sun 20 SepDecent42 mph6°C33% (0 mm)32 km
Mon 21 SepMarginal38 mph11°C37% (1.8 mm)4 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal38 mph7°C36% (1.8 mm)6 km
Wed 23 SepCracking41 mph3°C42% (0 mm)33 km
Thu 24 SepDecent43 mph1°C28% (0 mm)40 km
Fri 25 SepCracking10 mph6°C24% (0 mm)40 km

Central Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Central Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal27 mph11°C5% (0.6 mm)9 km
Sat 12 SepSave it47 mph13°C97% (23.3 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking16 mph14°C11% (0.1 mm)4 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal31 mph14°C74% (3.7 mm)3 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal43 mph10°C83% (1.8 mm)8 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal39 mph10°C61% (4.3 mm)4 km
Thu 17 SepMarginal47 mph6°C88% (5.8 mm)5 km
Fri 18 SepSave it47 mph5°C30% (6.2 mm)3 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal44 mph5°C66% (5.2 mm)5 km
Sun 20 SepDecent41 mph6°C47% (0 mm)27 km
Mon 21 SepMarginal36 mph11°C49% (4.8 mm)1 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal39 mph7°C43% (2.8 mm)1 km
Wed 23 SepMarginal43 mph4°C49% (0.6 mm)20 km
Thu 24 SepDecent42 mph2°C42% (0 mm)41 km
Fri 25 SepCracking12 mph6°C31% (0 mm)24 km

Southern Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Southern Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal37 mph7°C61% (1.5 mm)poor
Sat 12 SepSave it59 mph12°C97% (46.9 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking18 mph13°C19% (0.1 mm)7 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal35 mph13°C77% (3.7 mm)3 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal47 mph5°C90% (1.8 mm)8 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal43 mph5°C78% (4.3 mm)4 km
Thu 17 SepSave it51 mph4°C95% (8.0 mm)6 km
Fri 18 SepSave it53 mph4°C43% (5.4 mm)4 km
Sat 19 SepSave it50 mph4°C69% (5.0 mm)5 km
Sun 20 SepDecent45 mph5°C56% (0.2 mm)26 km
Mon 21 SepSave it38 mph10°C57% (10.2 mm)poor
Tue 22 SepMarginal44 mph5°C51% (4.8 mm)3 km
Wed 23 SepMarginal47 mph2°C54% (0.6 mm)16 km
Thu 24 SepDecent44 mph1°C51% (0 mm)40 km
Fri 25 SepCracking15 mph4°C36% (0 mm)28 km

Northern Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Northern Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal37 mph7°C14% (1.5 mm)poor
Sat 12 SepSave it51 mph13°C87% (16.2 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking15 mph13°C10% (0.1 mm)6 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal38 mph14°C35% (0.9 mm)5 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal44 mph6°C55% (2.6 mm)8 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal42 mph6°C31% (3.4 mm)4 km
Thu 17 SepSave it51 mph5°C68% (6.7 mm)5 km
Fri 18 SepSave it53 mph4°C13% (2.6 mm)8 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal49 mph4°C55% (3.6 mm)5 km
Sun 20 SepDecent44 mph5°C27% (0 mm)21 km
Mon 21 SepMarginal44 mph12°C26% (2.4 mm)4 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal45 mph6°C34% (2.4 mm)3 km
Wed 23 SepCracking47 mph3°C40% (0 mm)26 km
Thu 24 SepDecent41 mph1°C25% (0 mm)40 km
Fri 25 SepCracking12 mph5°C24% (0 mm)25 km

North Western Fells

Daily walking outlook for the North Western Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepMarginal37 mph10°C61% (1.7 mm)poor
Sat 12 SepSave it55 mph13°C97% (21.5 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking17 mph13°C19% (0.2 mm)6 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal34 mph14°C77% (3.7 mm)4 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal43 mph6°C90% (3.8 mm)5 km
Wed 16 SepMarginal43 mph6°C78% (6.0 mm)4 km
Thu 17 SepSave it51 mph5°C95% (9.2 mm)4 km
Fri 18 SepSave it50 mph5°C43% (5.6 mm)4 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal48 mph5°C69% (7.4 mm)4 km
Sun 20 SepDecent41 mph6°C56% (0.2 mm)18 km
Mon 21 SepSave it40 mph11°C57% (6.6 mm)1 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal44 mph6°C51% (5.6 mm)poor
Wed 23 SepCracking47 mph3°C55% (0 mm)16 km
Thu 24 SepDecent42 mph2°C51% (0 mm)36 km
Fri 25 SepCracking15 mph6°C36% (0 mm)21 km

Western Fells

Daily walking outlook for the Western Fells
DayVerdictWindFeels likeRainVisibility
Fri 11 SepDecent27 mph10°C61% (1.0 mm)3 km
Sat 12 SepSave it53 mph13°C97% (29.2 mm)poor
Sun 13 SepCracking17 mph13°C19% (0.2 mm)14 km
Mon 14 SepMarginal35 mph13°C77% (6.9 mm)3 km
Tue 15 SepMarginal46 mph6°C90% (3.7 mm)3 km
Wed 16 SepSave it45 mph6°C78% (9.0 mm)3 km
Thu 17 SepMarginal47 mph5°C95% (8.9 mm)5 km
Fri 18 SepMarginal48 mph4°C43% (4.8 mm)4 km
Sat 19 SepMarginal44 mph5°C69% (6.2 mm)3 km
Sun 20 SepDecent38 mph5°C56% (0.2 mm)28 km
Mon 21 SepMarginal36 mph11°C57% (8.4 mm)9 km
Tue 22 SepMarginal40 mph6°C51% (5.8 mm)2 km
Wed 23 SepCracking44 mph3°C55% (0 mm)14 km
Thu 24 SepCracking41 mph1°C51% (0 mm)40 km
Fri 25 SepCracking13 mph5°C36% (0 mm)18 km

Scoring model: the same as Conditions (best_match). Forecasts move — check the live panel above, and the Met Office mountain forecast, before you set off.

What’s the Lake District weather actually like?

The short answer: wetter and windier than most of England, and quick to change. The central fells sit squarely in the path of Atlantic weather systems, and Seathwaite in Borrowdale is regularly cited as the wettest inhabited place in England, with well over 3,000 mm of rain a year. But “it always rains in the Lakes” is a myth — the eastern and far-eastern fells around Ullswater and Haweswater are noticeably drier than the western ones, and long settled spells do happen, especially in spring and early autumn.

Roughly, by season: late spring (May–June) and September are often the driest, clearest and most settled — the sweet spot for the fells, with long daylight and fewer midges. High summer (July–August) is warm and busy but can be humid and hazy, with afternoon showers. Autumn and winter bring the heaviest rain and strongest wind, short days, and snow and ice on the tops from roughly November to April — genuine winter conditions that need the right kit and experience.

How to read a mountain weather forecast

A valley forecast and a mountain forecast can be worlds apart. On the summits it’s colder (very roughly 6–10°C cooler than the valley), far windier, and often in cloud when the dale below is clear. Before any big walk, check a proper mountain forecast, not just the town one:

Read wind as summit gusts (around 40 mph on the tops makes ridges hard work; 60 mph is dangerous), watch the freezing level in winter (below summit height means snow and ice underfoot), and treat the cloud base as your likely view — if it’s sitting at 600 m, the high tops will be in cloud. Then use the outlook above to pick your day, and our live conditions for today and tomorrow.

Common planning questions

Which day is best to walk in the Lake District this week?

Use the outlook above: pick a green (Cracking) or blue (Decent) day in your chosen region, then confirm with the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you go.

How far ahead can I reliably plan?

The first few days are the most trustworthy; treat days 7–16 as a steer for choosing a likely weekend rather than a firm forecast, and re-check nearer the time.

What do the verdicts mean?

Each day is scored 0–100 and banded Cracking, Decent, Marginal or Save it — the same method as the Conditions page. Colours are colour-blind-safe (Save it is grey, not red).

Does it always rain in the Lake District?

No — though it’s one of the wettest parts of England. The western fells and Borrowdale (home to Seathwaite, often called England’s wettest inhabited place) get far more rain than the drier eastern fells around Ullswater and Haweswater, and settled dry spells are common in late spring and early autumn.

When is the best time to visit the Lake District for good weather?

Late spring (May and June) and September tend to be the driest, clearest and most settled for the fells, with long daylight and fewer midges than high summer. July and August are warmest but busiest and can be hazy; late autumn and winter bring the heaviest rain, and snow and ice to the tops.