Forecast confidence: Cloud height is close to summit level at times, so small local changes could put the top in or out of cloud.
Burns and unbridged crossings may rise quickly. Assess them at the water and turn back if unsure.
A rough, clagged-in day on Scafell Pike: summit wind broadly 25-40 mph, with gusts 45-55 mph during the evening (gale-force winds). The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain. Severe spate risk based on forecast rainfall. Burns and unbridged crossings may become unsafe or impassable. Most likely from around 00:00 until around 06:00 the following day. Much calmer lower down - generally 15-25 mph in the valley, rising towards the tops. Cloud base mostly around 900–1200 m through daylight. Expect the top to stay in cloud for most or all of daylight, with no dependable break. Cloud height is close to summit level at times, so small local changes could put the top in or out of cloud. Cloud is likely to hang lowest on western slopes; the eastern side should see somewhat higher bases and better breaks. Very little direct sunshine is indicated; cloud is likely to remain extensive. A persistently wet day is possible, with around 10-20 mm indicated; local totals could vary considerably. Confidence moderate (forecast models agree on the walking impact of the wind) - walker-height summit wind could reasonably be 33-39 mph, with gusts 46-55 mph. Cloud base is the least certain part of this - it could sit a couple of hundred metres either way, especially where it is close to summit level.
Sunshine and sky
Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. Local hill cloud can still make an individual summit brighter or duller than the surrounding model grid.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaGusts near 55 mph make meaningful shelter important. 39/100Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Open-hillside camping looks poor overall around 600 m (39/100). Open-ground gusts may reach about 55 mph, making exposed pitches a poor choice. Peak gusts increase from about 40 mph at 300 m to 55 mph at 900 m. A wet night is likely, with roughly 31.7 mm and rain liable to affect both pitching and packing up. Condensation risk is high across the modelled levels, so a wet pack-up is possible; ventilation will matter. The coldest temperature falls from about 9.9°C at 300 m to 7.2°C at 900 m.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 21 / 38 mph
- Typical / low
- 12.1° / 9.9°C · a brief spell
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 25 / 46 mph
- Typical / low
- 11.3° / 9.2°C · a brief spell
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 30 / 54 mph
- Typical / low
- 9.4° / 7.2°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 6°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGusts near 50 mph increase the seriousness of exposed ground. 0/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling look very poor (0/100). Rain during the useful part of the day is likely to leave rock wet and more slippery. The mapped summit rock is Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia (Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation). Usually rough and grippy when dry. Damp sandstone and gritstone can feel greasy, and saturated sandstone may be weakened, so let the rock dry fully. Representative samples along available mapped routes also include Dacitic lapilli-tuff, Andesite and 4 other mapped types, so rock character and wet-weather behaviour may change across the mountain. Gusts may reach about 50 mph; crosswinds can make exposed ridges substantially more serious. Cloud may also make route-finding and retreat harder.
Usually rough and grippy when dry. Damp sandstone and gritstone can feel greasy, and saturated sandstone may be weakened, so let the rock dry fully. Summit-point mapping plus representative BGS bedrock samples along available GPX routes. These are not continuous geological surveys; contacts, superficial deposits and the exposed rock on individual holds may differ.
8 rock types appear across the available route samples
The summit type remains the forecast's cautious rock-response reference. Other mapped types show where conditions may behave differently elsewhere on the mountain.
Usually rough and grippy when dry. Damp sandstone and gritstone can feel greasy, and saturated sandstone may be weakened, so let the rock dry fully.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordSee sampled routes
Wainwright Bob Graham Round74–957 m samplesAndesite · Dacitic lapilli-tuff · Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia
Wainwright Old County Tops632–954 m samplesDacitic lapilli-tuff · Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia
Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale336–957 m samplesDacitic lapilli-tuff · Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia · Andesite · Felsic tuff · Microgabbro
Wainwright Scafell Pike Langdale520–957 m samplesDacitic lapilli-tuff · Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia
Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale69–959 m samplesAndesite · Dacite · Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff · Volcaniclastic-sandstone and volcaniclastic-breccia
Generic exposed scrambling terrain; mapped summit-point bedrock is 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.




