Scafell Pike Weather

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.