The day on the hill
A wild day on the tops of Scafell Pike, with burns in severe spate and very strong, gusty winds. Not a day for the summit.
Things to watch
Burns and rivers are likely to be in severe spate through much of the day and into the night. Do not attempt unbridged crossings. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of around 35–45 mph first thing, easing to 20–30 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 55–65 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–25 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.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit mid-afternoon. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m mid-morning. 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.
Rain and ground
Heavy rain at first, clearing by mid-afternoon. Expect 20–40 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
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. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 6:15pm, 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. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.
Below zero means severe hill conditions. More negative scores indicate more severe forecast weather. Read the hazard details before making plans. Below zero means severe hill conditions. More negative scores indicate more severe forecast weather. Read the hazard details before making plans.
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.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA good night for a wild camp: gusts of about 30 mph. 81Good · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A good night for a wild camp. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the west. It should stay dry. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 900 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Moon overnight
Waxing crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 26%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 19:43 BST
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 15 Oct, 17:00 BST to 16 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 13 mph / 20 mph
- Typical / low
- 7.0°C / 5.2°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 15 mph / 24 mph
- Typical / low
- 6.9°C / 5.2°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 7% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 18 mph / 28 mph
- Typical / low
- 4.8°C / 3.3°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 13% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 55–65 mph. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 55–65 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. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross andesite, which grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. On the usual routes up you may also cross dolerite, which grips well when dry and is fair when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. 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 Bob Graham Round
volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone
Wainwright Old County Tops
volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone
Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale
volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone, granite, gneiss or gabbro
Wainwright Scafell Pike Langdale
volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone
Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale
volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
8 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.
Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordAndesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground.
BGS recordRhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordAndesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordDolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.
BGS recordGeneric exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly clear. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-15. All times are UK local time.
Aurora is unlikely on this night
Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 2.7 (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
Very good sky conditions during the best available spell: 16 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST.
Mostly clear.
Moon-free dark sky: 15 Oct, 20:15 BST to 16 Oct, 05:45 BST.
Sky conditions through the night
| Time | Viewing conditions |
|---|---|
| 15 Oct, 20:15 BST to 21:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. |
| 15 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. |
| 15 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 15 Oct, 23:00 BST to 16 Oct, 00:00 BST | Good sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 16 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 16 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 16 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. |
| 16 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST | Good sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 16 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST | Very good sky conditions Mostly clear. |
| 16 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:45 BST | Mixed sky conditions Mostly clear. Rain at times. |
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Crescent moon, about 26% illuminated.
Moonset around 15 Oct, 19:35 BST.
Full darkness: 15 Oct, 20:15 BST to 16 Oct, 05:45 BST.
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.
Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.
- Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
- Orionids: peak around 21 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 562 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.
2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.
VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.
Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.
Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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