Fell Top Weather

Forecast

This evening

Outbreaks of rain becoming more showery, and turning increasingly as snow above about 450m, this evening with a few clear spells developing in southwest. Northeasterly gales

Tomorrow - Saturday, 5th December

Summary

Sunny spells and a few snow showers. Northeasterly winds easing.

Detail

Snow showers, falling increasingly as rain below about 450m, slowly dying out overnight with clear spells developing. Then a mainly dry morning with some good spells of sunshine. Increasing cloud in the afternoon will bring a few snow showers to eastern fells from mid-afternoon. The showers developing more widely in the evening with perhaps some more persistent snow in the east towards midnight, with rain becoming more likely below about 600m.

Visibility

Very good with some decent views of recently snow covered surrounding fells, falling to just 1 or 2 kilometres in snow showers.

Chance of cloud free summits

Close to 100% in the morning, and in the west through much of the day. Chances in the east fall to around 60% in the afternoon with occasional cloud above 600m edging east. Chances fall further through the evening.

Forecaster's view

Gusts around 55mph over ridges and summits through the early hours then easing. Valley temperatures close to freezing in places at dawn. A cold day at all levels.

Conditions through the day

Time		00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Weather
Precipitation		30%	20%	10%	<5%	10%	20%	20%	30%
Freezing Level		600m	600m	500m	500m	600m	700m	600m	800m
900m	Temperature (°C)	-2	-2	-2	-2	-1	-1	-2	-2
	Feels like (°C)	-11	-11	-11	-10	-8	-8	-9	-8
	Wind direction	NE	NE	E	NE	NE	NE	N	N
	Wind speed (mph)	38	31	34	28	22	24	22	19
	Wind gust (mph)	47	38	41	33	26	28	25	22
600m	Temperature (°C)	0	-0	-0	-0	0	1	0	1
	Feels like (°C)	-8	-7	-8	-6	-5	-5	-5	-5
	Wind direction	NE	NE	E	NE	NE	NE	N	N
	Wind speed (mph)	29	22	23	15	13	15	14	12
	Wind gust (mph)	39	30	32	20	18	19	19	15
300m	Temperature (°C)	2	2	2	2	3	3	2	1
	Feels like (°C)	-2	-2	-2	-1	1	0	-1	-1
	Wind direction	NE	NE	E	NE	NE	N	N	N
	Wind speed (mph)	12	8	8	5	5	6	5	4
	Wind gust (mph)	32	24	23	17	14	16	14	12
Valley	Temperature (°C)	4	4	4	4	6	5	4	3
	Feels like (°C)	0	0	0	1	3	2	1	1
	Wind direction	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	N	N
	Wind speed (mph)	14	12	11	9	9	9	7	6
	Wind gust (mph)	34	26	26	21	18	20	17	14

Daylight

dawn 07:33, sunrise 08:17, sunset 15:49, dusk 16:32

Fell Top Assessors' report

Fell Top Conditions on Friday 4 December

Readings from Helvellyn summit at 11:25

Temperature minus 1.4°C Maximum wind speed 29.8mph Wind chill minus 10.8°C Average wind speed 20.2mph Wind direction NNE

Winter arrived in earnest today with around 3 inches of snow down to valley level on the Thirlmere side of Helvellyn this morning. Knee deep drifts of snow were encountered frequently on the way up, burying the path over large areas.

NE winds have scoured the summit plateau, exposing the paths in places, however, these areas are a minority which makes navigation and route finding very difficult, especially without goggles.

No significant cornices were seen (snow overhangs caused by the wind) around corrie rims above Brown Cove/Red Tarn, however, there are areas of unstable snow (windslab) in these locations and on ridge flanks.

The freezing level rose through the day and was at around 600m by midday. The snow below this height was becoming quite wet and any drop in temperature overnight will produce ice on the paths.

Anyone venturing out tomorrow should anticipate very challenging conditions with reduced visibility and severe wind chill. Good navigation skills will be required for safe travel in the high fells.

Warm and waterproof winter clothing including hat and gloves, and equipment including mountaineering boots, ice axe, crampons, map, compass and goggles, and a headtorch are essential.

For the climbers: The turf is largely unfrozen and due to the NW winds we've experienced in the last few days, many of the scarp slopes which several routes finish up have almost no snow cover and are essentially just exposed grass. Please avoid climbing in these locations to avoid damaging the rare arctic/alpine plant species that grow in these locations.

Sunday, 6th December

Detail

Rather cloudy overnight with showers or, especially in east, longer spells of mainly snow, with rain below about 600m.A few early showers in the morning but generally a dry and bright day with some sunny spells developing.

Wind

Northerly or northeasterly 15-20mph becoming variable at 10mph or less through the morning.

Visibility

Good or very good falling to a few kilometres in snow and snow showers.

Chance of cloud free summits

Around 40% with occasional or periods of cloud above about 600m

Daylight

dawn 07:35, sunrise 08:18, sunset 15:48, dusk 16:32

Monday, 7th December

Frosty start to a mostly dry day with sunny spells. Freshening northerly winds. Freezing level 800m

Tuesday, 8th December

Another largely dry day with sunny spells, perhaps some evening rain or showers in the east. Strong northerly or northwesterly winds. Freezing level 800m rising above summits later.

Wednesday, 9th December

Patchy overnight rain clearing with sunny spells developing. Winds becoming a fresh northeasterly. Freezing level just above the highest summits.

This forecast contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence.