Knott Rigg weather forecast.

556 m summit in Lake District. 7 forecast days covering wind, cloud, rain and temperature, updated 10 November 2026 at 16:25 UTC.

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Compare 7 days, then read the outlook for your visit. Scores start at 100 and can fall below zero in severe weather. How we score a hill day.

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Confidence: High
Overall hill weather100Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-10 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:005-15 mph Feels like-2 to 2°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:34 · Sunset 16:18 · 8.7 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Knott Rigg: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 10 mph, mainly southerly, with gusts of 5–15 mph at the windiest.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. 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 6°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a warm layer and a hat for the top.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 6.9 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
1.9 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.
100
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.
100

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: a frost, down to -1°C. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 11 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the northwest. 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 (300-600 m), down to about -1°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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m14 mph · gusts 28 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
12 mph / 24 mph
Typical / low
2.4°C / -0.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
14 mph / 28 mph
Typical / low
1.6°C / -1.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

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 around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust5-15 mphRain0.0 mm
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. 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: 11 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 12 Nov, 00:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 11 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:30 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
11 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

11 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTMixed 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 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

11 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor 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 GMTPoor 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 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

12 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

12 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:30 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 7% illuminated.

Full darkness: 11 Nov, 18:25 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Wednesday 11 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: High
Overall hill weather80Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0015-30 mph northerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0025-35 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing level300-500 m DaylightSunrise 07:36 · Sunset 16:16 · 8.7 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Knott Rigg: dry and breezy, with clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a northerly wind of 15–30 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. 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 -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 400–700 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. 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.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 7.9 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
1.9 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground.
77
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground.
83

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: a frost, down to -1°C. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Thursday 12 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. It should stay dry. A frost at every height we checked (300-600 m), down to about -1°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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m12 mph · gusts 22 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
13%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
17:28 GMT

Views of the Moon may come and go through cloud breaks. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 12 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 13 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
10 mph / 18 mph
Typical / low
0.3°C / -0.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
12 mph / 22 mph
Typical / low
-0.2°C / -1.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGood conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 25–35 mph. Good77 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Good conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust25-35 mphRain0.0 mm
Main concerngusts of 25–35 mph
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-12. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 2.0 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 5.0 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Very good sky conditions during the best available spell: 13 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 12 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 13 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
12 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 13 Nov, 00:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTVery good sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTVery good sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 13% illuminated.

Moonset around 12 Nov, 17:20 GMT.

Full darkness: 12 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 13 Nov, 05:35 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Thursday 12 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather100Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph northwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-8 to -4°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing level300-600 m DaylightSunrise 07:38 · Sunset 16:15 · 8.6 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Knott Rigg: light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

A little rain at times.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -8 to -4°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. It's still two days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 8 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
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.
100
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
99

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: gusts of about 20 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Friday 13 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. Dry to pitch, then a little rain overnight, easing by morning, though the tent may still be wet. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.7 mm Open ground · 600 m14 mph · gusts 20 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
20%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
18:31 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 13 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 14 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
12 mph / 17 mph
Typical / low
3.0°C / 1.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
14 mph / 20 mph
Typical / low
2.7°C / 1.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
13% 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 -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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor26 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust15-25 mphRain0.3 mm
Main factorswet rock likelySub-zero temperatures and moisture may leave icy patches on exposed rock
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-13. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 1.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 5.0 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 13 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 13 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 14 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
13 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

13 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 14 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 20% illuminated.

Moonset around 13 Nov, 18:25 GMT.

Full darkness: 13 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 14 Nov, 05:35 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Friday 13 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather74Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-25 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0020-30 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate85% Cloud base through day500-1,700 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:40 · Sunset 16:13 · 8.6 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Knott Rigg: light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 20–30 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 20–30 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit early in the morning. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice.

Rain and ground

Drizzle sets in during the early afternoon.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

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

There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. It's still three days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0.8 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
Less than 1 hour
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground.
78
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period.
71

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain: gusts of about 25 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 14 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 25 mph. The wind swings from southwesterly to southerly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Up around 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. The air is damp up around 600 m, so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 300 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain1.0 mm Open ground · 600 m14 mph · gusts 24 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
27%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
19:43 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 14 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
12 mph / 20 mph
Typical / low
2.7°C / 1.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
14 mph / 24 mph
Typical / low
2.8°C / 1.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
33% of modelled night
Condensation
High

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 0°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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaMixed conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor45 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Mixed conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 20–30 mph will be noticeable on exposed ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust20-30 mphRain1.7 mm
Main concernwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-14. All times are UK local time.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 14 Nov, 19:40 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
14 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 28% illuminated.

Moonset around 14 Nov, 19:40 GMT.

Full darkness: 14 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:35 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Saturday 14 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Low
Overall hill weather77Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:42 · Sunset 16:11 · 8.5 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Knott Rigg: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a southerly wind of 10–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain in the morning.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°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 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

The forecast models disagree on how strong the wind will be, so it could be noticeably stronger than this. It's still four days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 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 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
83
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
71

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Sunday 15 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 15 mph. It should stay dry. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m9 mph · gusts 16 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
36%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
20:59 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 15 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
7 mph / 14 mph
Typical / low
2.3°C / 2.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
9 mph / 16 mph
Typical / low
1.5°C / 1.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

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 -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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaMixed conditions for exposed scrambling. Mixed52 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Mixed conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be drying, but damp patches, shaded holds and drainage lines may still be wet. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDamp or dryingPeak gust15-25 mphRainPossible · 78%
Main concerndamp or incompletely dried rock possible
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-15. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 15 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 15 Nov, 20:55 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
15 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 36% illuminated.

Moonset around 15 Nov, 20:55 GMT.

Full darkness: 15 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:40 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Sunday 15 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather94Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-15 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-2 to 2°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:44 · Sunset 16:10 · 8.4 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Knott Rigg: 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 southerly, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry. Some forecast models bring rain, so don't count on it staying dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still five days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 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 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.
94
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground.
94

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 45 mph and about 7 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Monday 16 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Dry to pitch, then about 7 mm of rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. Up around 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 600 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain7.4 mm Open ground · 600 m26 mph · gusts 46 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

First-quarter moon

Illuminated disc
46%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
22:17 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 16 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 3.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
26 mph / 46 mph
Typical / low
3.3°C / 3.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
47% of modelled night
Condensation
High

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 0°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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent92 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

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 around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust15-25 mphRain0.0 mm
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-16. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 16 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 19:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 16 Nov, 22:15 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
16 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Around half moon, about 46% illuminated.

Moonset around 16 Nov, 22:15 GMT.

Full darkness: 16 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:40 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Monday 16 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather3Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0050-60 mph Feels like-2 to 2°C PrecipitationAround 2-5 mm Cloud-free summit estimate30% Cloud base through day500-800 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:46 · Sunset 16:08 · 8.4 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Knott Rigg, with very strong, gusty winds and drizzle for much of the day.

Things to watch

There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from the morning into the evening. If you hear thunder, head down off the tops and away from ridges. Storms can bring sudden strong gusts and heavy rain. Storm timing could easily shift by a few hours.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 30–40 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 50–60 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 very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 85–95 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Visibility may drop briefly in showers.

Rain and ground

Drizzle for much of the day. Expect 2–5 mm in total.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still six days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 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 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 50-60 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
0
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
6

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 40 mph and around 13 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 3Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Tuesday 17 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph on open ground, 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. A thunderstorm is possible. The timing of any storms is uncertain, so don't pitch on a ridge or summit, and have a lower fallback. Expect a wet night, around 13 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Up around 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 6°C at 600 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain13.1 mm Open ground · 600 m27 mph · gusts 41 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
55%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
23:35 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 17 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m23 · poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 34 mph
Typical / low
8.8°C / 7.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m3 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 41 mph
Typical / low
7.7°C / 6.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
73% 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 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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 50–60 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from the morning into the evening. If you hear thunder, get off exposed rock and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, 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. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust50-60 mphRain5.0 mm
Main factorslow thunderstorm risk on exposed groundgusts of 50–60 mphwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Mudstone Buttermere Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 82% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Basalt (Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite)
Rock-response profile
Moderate confidence
View the summit BGS record

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, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Mudstone Buttermere Formation 250–549 m samples Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Robinson Member Around 208 m Seen on Wainwright Ard Crags Knott Rigg

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.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Basalt Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-17. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Slightly raised activity, probably not enough to reach this far.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 18 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 17 Nov, 23:35 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
17 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 56% illuminated.

Moonset around 17 Nov, 23:35 GMT.

Full darkness: 17 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:40 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 659 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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Knott Rigg on Tuesday 17 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

Forecast run: 2026-11-10

A forecast is part of the decision.

Mountain weather can differ sharply from conditions in the valley. Check official warnings, carry appropriate navigation and clothing, and be ready to change the plan. Read how Mountain Weather forecasts are produced and where their limits lie.