Scafell Pike weather can be unpredictable. Anyone who has spent any time in the UK will know that it has a reputation for less than perfect weather. In particular for rain and especially on the western side. Where is Scafell Pike? In Cumbria. And where is Cumbria? Right on the western coast of England. Sea, mountains, prevailing westerly weather systems: yep, it’s very wet in the Lake District.

Scafell Pike Weather Forecast - 5 day summary

Here's a detailed 5-day outlook of the Scafell Pike weather to help you prepare for the conditions ahead. Be sure to check the forecast frequently. The Met Office provides the weather forecast for Scafell Pike, but for 100% accuracy, please check directly on their website.

Today

00:00
Temp. 4°c
Rain 97%
Wind 22mph S
Gusts 47mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 100%
03:00
Temp. 5°c
Rain 80%
Wind 51mph SSW
Gusts 60mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 100%
06:00
Temp. 4°c
Rain 48%
Wind 31mph WSW
Gusts 36mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 100%
09:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 22%
Wind 25mph WSW
Gusts 31mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 100%
12:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 20%
Wind 16mph WSW
Gusts 22mph
UV Index 2
Humidity 99%
15:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 18%
Wind 11mph WSW
Gusts 16mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 97%
18:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 16%
Wind 7mph SSW
Gusts 9mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 96%
21:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 5%
Wind 7mph ESE
Gusts 9mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 88%

Tomorrow

00:00
Temp. 4°c
Rain 8%
Wind 9mph ESE
Gusts 11mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 88%
03:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 66%
Wind 9mph E
Gusts 13mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 94%
06:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 72%
Wind 9mph ENE
Gusts 11mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 99%
09:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 71%
Wind 9mph NNE
Gusts 13mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 99%
12:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 52%
Wind 13mph NNE
Gusts 18mph
UV Index 2
Humidity 99%
15:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 33%
Wind 16mph N
Gusts 22mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 98%
18:00
Temp. 1°c
Rain 18%
Wind 16mph N
Gusts 20mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 98%
21:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 16%
Wind 9mph NNE
Gusts 13mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 98%

Thursday

00:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 5%
Wind 7mph S
Gusts 9mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 93%
03:00
Temp. -2°c
Rain 6%
Wind 11mph S
Gusts 16mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 97%
06:00
Temp. -1°c
Rain 8%
Wind 18mph SSW
Gusts 25mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 98%
09:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 14%
Wind 22mph SSW
Gusts 36mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 97%
12:00
Temp. 1°c
Rain 52%
Wind 29mph SSW
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 2
Humidity 97%
15:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 25%
Wind 31mph SW
Gusts 47mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 97%
18:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 54%
Wind 29mph SW
Gusts 47mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 99%
21:00
Temp. 3°c
Rain 63%
Wind 27mph SW
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 99%

Friday

00:00
Temp. 2°c
Rain 56%
Wind 25mph WSW
Gusts 40mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 96%
03:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 38%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 38mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 95%
06:00
Temp. -1°c
Rain 36%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 38mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 95%
09:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 57%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 43mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 93%
12:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 61%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 3
Humidity 90%
15:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 66%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 2
Humidity 88%
18:00
Temp. -2°c
Rain 69%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 40mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 92%
21:00
Temp. -3°c
Rain 67%
Wind 25mph W
Gusts 43mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 93%

Saturday

00:00
Temp. -3°c
Rain 67%
Wind 27mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 94%
03:00
Temp. -3°c
Rain 68%
Wind 27mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 95%
06:00
Temp. -3°c
Rain 69%
Wind 27mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 96%
09:00
Temp. -2°c
Rain 68%
Wind 27mph W
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 96%
12:00
Temp. -1°c
Rain 66%
Wind 25mph WNW
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 2
Humidity 92%
15:00
Temp. 0°c
Rain 65%
Wind 25mph WNW
Gusts 45mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 89%
18:00
Temp. -1°c
Rain 45%
Wind 22mph NW
Gusts 38mph
UV Index 1
Humidity 94%
21:00
Temp. -2°c
Rain 39%
Wind 20mph NW
Gusts 36mph
UV Index 0
Humidity 95%

Data provided by the Met Office. Last updated: 6h ago. When considering Scafell Pike weather, take note that the conditions you encounter at the base of Scafell Pike may be vastly different from those you experience at its summit. Higher altitudes often bring colder temperatures, stronger winds, and decreased visibility. Therefore, it is always advisable to check the mountain weather forecast before you set off for your hike.

When to check the weather forecast

First, decide when you will attempt to climb Scafell Pike based on the seasonal trends we’ve just talked about. Then, once you’ve picked the week or weekend, you’ll be in the Lake District; it’s time to think about the forecast. Keep an eye on current conditions for a couple weeks before you go. This will tell you about more significant weather events, like flooding or heavy snow, that might still be around when you arrive.

Then check the specific forecast when you arrive for the duration you’ll be in the Lake District. Assuming that you’ll have more than one day in the area, you can look at the general trend and pick the best-looking weather day for Scafell Pike. Once you’ve picked your day, check the weather the night before your walk to ensure everything is as planned. Then make one final check on the morning you set out to be sure nothing has changed. The mountain will always be there, so it’s best to wait for pleasant weather conditions. You’ll enjoy the experience more and be safer too.

Other Scafell Pike weather resources and forecasts

You can find a general Lake District forecast on your favourite weather app. But, the most valuable forecasts will be specifically tailored for mountains - or even better, to Scafell Pike itself.

There are three main places to go:

Mountain Weather Information Service

The Mountain Weather Information Service is explicitly designed with walkers in mind. Rather than just a load of pictures and numbers, it describes in detail what you might expect to experience in the mountains that day. For example, “Another stormy day on higher fells; general mobility very difficult. Ferocious gusts to lower slopes.” It includes valuable factors for walkers, like how low the cloud will be on the summit and whether you’re likely to get a view.

Read the MWIS Lake District Forecast here.

Met Office

The Met Office does a dedicated mountain forecast, too, now, which includes the Lake District. This is not to be confused with the standard app that you’d use back at home. It uses the familiar layout from the Met Office local forecasts but considers the mountainous terrain. For example, higher wind and colder temperatures due to elevation. It will also highlight any hazards.

Read the Met Office Mountain Forecast here.

Lake District Weatherline

The Lake District Weatherline combines a walking-specific weather forecast with an on-the-ground assessment. Alongside the text-based forecast is an assessment of current conditions and photos taken that day. Their fell top assessors climb Helvellyn every day to take readings.

Read the Lake District Weatherline forecast here.

How to read the forecast

When reading the Scafell Pike weather forecast, you’re not just looking at whether it is raining. You want to look at the wind speed and direction: walking into a strong wind will be hard work.

Check the freezing level or the temperature on the summit - this will help you tell whether to expect snow and ice on top of the mountain - but also look at the “feels like” temperature, which takes into account the wind chill and elevation. It’s roughly 1 degree colder for every 100 metres you ascend from the valley.

Next, have a look at the cloud level or visibility. Not all routes up Scafell Pike are on clearly marked paths, and low visibility might lead you in circles or, worse, into danger. It’s all about knowing what to expect on the day or deciding to change the day of your expedition to one with a better forecast.

Seasons

That’s not to say you must climb Scafell Pike in the rain. There are many weeks of summer (June - August) when you might expect dry weather. Sure, it’s not guaranteed - and we’ll talk about how and where to check the forecast in a moment. The shoulder seasons of spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are more unsettled, with a lot more chance of rain than the summer, but dry days are still possible.

Then in winter (December-February), you could expect snow. It depends on the conditions in a particular year, though, and weather can swap from balmy to miserable very quickly, especially in the mountains. So keep an eye on the forecast.

Weather dependent equipment

Armed with your weather forecast, you might want to add or remove a few things from your rucksack, to be best prepared for the conditions on Scafell Pike. For example:

  • If it’s sunny: suncream, peaked cap, extra water
  • If it’s raining: waterproof jacket and trousers
  • If it’s low cloud or fog: make sure you have a map and compass and know how to use it, and the phone battery is fully charged (we recommend having a spare old-school phone for emergencies, especially if you’ll be using your smartphone for photos), waterproofs - it’s still pretty damp inside a cloud.
  • If there is snow and ice: ice axe, crampons
  • If it’s cold or windy: hats and gloves and warm layers

Don’t forget we’ve got a complete hiking preparation guide & equipment list. And honestly, you’ll likely experience all sorts of weather the day you climb Scafell Pike. So you’d be better prepared to take most of the extra kit, just in case, with some insight from the forecast.