The day on the hill
A mixed day on Black Fell, with a blustery wind.
Wind
On the summit expect an easterly wind of 20–30 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 30–40 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out.
Rain and ground
Drizzle at first, clearing by early afternoon.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:25pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates 0.9 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
- Early
- 0 h
- Midday
- 0.9 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind: gusts of about 30 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the east. It should stay dry. The air is damp at every height we checked (300-600 m), so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. Overnight lows of about 5°C at 300 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Moon overnight
Waning crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 11%
- Moonrise
- 04:04 next morning GMT
- Moonset
- Outside this window
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 5 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 6 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 17 mph / 27 mph
- Typical / low
- 5.0°C / 4.9°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 20 mph / 32 mph
- Typical / low
- 5.0°C / 4.9°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 30–40 mph. Poor21 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with sandstone, limestone and mudstone or slate, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away. Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
The rock changes around the summit, with sandstone, limestone and mudstone or slate, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.
Geological detail and BGS records
5 rock types appear in the mapped samples
No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.
Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.
BGS recordSandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS recordMudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS recordLimestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.
BGS recordLimestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.
BGS recordGeneric exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaNight-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. This does not mean clear skies or no aurora.
Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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