The day on the hill
A fine day on Cross Fell: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly north-easterly, with gusts of 10–20 mph at the windiest.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 400–700 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. Mist or fog is possible in the valleys through the morning. Good spells of sunshine are likely. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.
Rain and ground
It should stay dry.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Daylight
A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. 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 6.2 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
- 2 h
- Midday
- 3.2 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph and a frost, down to -4°C). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from northwesterly to northerly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. It should stay dry. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -4°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 12 mph / 31 mph
- Typical / low
- 1.9°C / -1.0°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 15 mph / 38 mph
- Typical / low
- 1.1°C / -1.9°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 13% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 17 mph / 44 mph
- Typical / low
- -1.1°C / -4.2°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 20% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°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 & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent92 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Excellent conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. The rock changes around the summit, with sandstone, mudstone or slate and limestone, 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. Mudstone 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. 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, mudstone or slate and limestone, 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 darkBetaForecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-11-11. All times are UK local time.
Aurora is unlikely on this night
A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.0 (on a 0 to 9 scale).
Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.
Stargazing
Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 12 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT.
Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.
Moon-free dark sky: 11 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:30 GMT.
Sky conditions through the night
| Time | Viewing conditions |
|---|---|
| 11 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 12 Nov, 00:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT | Poor sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. |
| 12 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT | Poor sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. |
| 12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:30 GMT | Good sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Crescent moon, about 7% illuminated.
Full darkness: 11 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:30 GMT.
Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.
Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.
Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.
Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.
- Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
- Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
- Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
- Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
- Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.
Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.
Darkness of the surroundings
Estimated darkness rank 694 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.
2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.
VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.
Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.
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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