Mountain Weather

Scafell Pike weather forecast.

978 m summit in Lake District. 7 forecast days covering wind, cloud, rain and temperature, updated 19 October 2026 at 15:31 UTC.

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Confidence: High
Overall hill weather15Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-25 mph southeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0025-35 mph Feels like-2 to 2°C PrecipitationAround 10-20 mm Cloud-free summit estimate10% Cloud base through day500-800 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:50 · Sunset 18:04 · 10.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Scafell Pike, with rain for much of the day and the summit in cloud for most of the day.

Things to watch

Burns could rise quickly through the day and overnight. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-easterly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m in the late afternoon. 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

Rain for much of the day. Expect 10–20 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher.

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 6:05pm, 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 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 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
10
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor More rain is expected. Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
20

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: around 10 mm of rain. 49Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Tuesday 20 October 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 southeasterly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect a wet night, around 10 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Above about 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 4°C at 900 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain10.4 mm Open ground · 600 m11 mph · gusts 20 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
72%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
01:37 next morning BST

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: 20 Oct, 17:00 BST to 21 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m49 · mixed
Wind / gust
9 mph / 16 mph
Typical / low
8.0°C / 7.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m49 · mixed
Wind / gust
11 mph / 20 mph
Typical / low
6.7°C / 6.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m49 · mixed
Wind / gust
13 mph / 23 mph
Typical / low
5.0°C / 4.2°C · several hours
In cloud
100% 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 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust25-35 mphRain10.0 mm
Main factorswet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-20. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 4.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). NOAA has a G1 storm watch out for this date, though the timing of the strongest activity can shift.

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

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 20 Oct, 20:05 BST to 21:00 BST.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 21 Oct, 01:35 BST to 05:55 BST.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
20 Oct, 20:05 BST to 21:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

20 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

20 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

20 Oct, 23:00 BST to 21 Oct, 00:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

21 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

21 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

21 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

21 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

21 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

21 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 72% illuminated.

Moonset around 21 Oct, 01:35 BST.

Full darkness: 20 Oct, 20:05 BST to 21 Oct, 05:55 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.

Northern Taurids 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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This is about Scafell Pike on Tuesday 20 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather61Mixed
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-30 mph northwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-8 to -4°C PrecipitationAround 2-5 mm Cloud-free summit estimate75% Cloud base through day1,300-1,600 m Freezing level1,000-1,300 m DaylightSunrise 07:52 · Sunset 18:01 · 10.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Scafell Pike, with sleet or snow up high and a blustery wind.

Wind

On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, rising to 25–35 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. The wind turns north-westerly around midday. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 45–55 mph.

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 could be as low as 400–700 m mid-afternoon. Visibility may drop briefly in showers. It will look largely cloudy overhead, but that cloud should mostly stay above the tops.

Rain and ground

Sleet is possible on the tops, and it could turn to snow if it is a little colder. A band of rain moves in during the early afternoon. Expect 2–5 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. 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 0 to 4°C, feeling like -8 to -4°C in the wind. It will feel colder later as the wind picks up. The freezing level falls through the day, to around 1200–1500 m by mid-afternoon. 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 6pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Some of the detail could still change, so have a last look at the forecast in the morning before you set off.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 1.7 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
1.3 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 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
81
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor More rain is expected. Summit winds around 5-15 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 20-30 mph later. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
41

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: gusts of about 40 mph. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 21 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Look for shelter from the northwest. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 900 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 m16 mph · gusts 33 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
80%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
02:57 next morning BST

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: 21 Oct, 17:00 BST to 22 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
13 mph / 28 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 3.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
16 mph / 33 mph
Typical / low
3.5°C / 3.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
18 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low
1.2°C / 1.1°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 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 & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 35–45 mph. 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 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust35-45 mphRain4.2 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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 darkBetaForecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-21. 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 3.3 (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: 22 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST.

Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.

Moon-free dark sky: 22 Oct, 02:55 BST to 05:55 BST.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
21 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

21 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

21 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

21 Oct, 23:00 BST to 22 Oct, 00:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

22 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.

Forecast models disagree.

22 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BSTMixed sky conditions

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

Forecast models disagree.

22 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BSTMixed sky conditions

Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.

Forecast models disagree.

22 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BSTMixed sky conditions

Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.

Forecast models disagree.

22 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BSTMixed sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

22 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BSTPoor sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 80% illuminated.

Moonset around 22 Oct, 02:55 BST.

Full darkness: 21 Oct, 20:00 BST to 22 Oct, 05:55 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.

Northern Taurids 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.

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 Scafell Pike on Wednesday 21 October 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 weather85Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:54 · Sunset 17:59 · 10.1 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Scafell Pike: 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 westerly, 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 should stay clear of cloud all day. The air should be clear too, so expect far-reaching views from the tops.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain later on. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. It turns milder through the day. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

Sunset is around 6pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

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 9.9 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
2 h
Midday
4 h
Later
1.9 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.
84
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.
86

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 above about 600 m (gusts of about 60 mph and around 10 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Thursday 22 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 60 mph around 900 m and nearer 40 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from southerly to easterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Dry to pitch, then a wet night, around 10 mm of rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 0°C around 900 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 rain10.2 mm Open ground · 600 m20 mph · gusts 47 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
88%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
04:18 next morning BST

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

Overnight window: 22 Oct, 17:00 BST to 23 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
17 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low
4.8°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
20 mph / 47 mph
Typical / low
3.8°C / 2.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 59 mph
Typical / low
1.3°C / 0.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
27% 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 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 & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor5 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. 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.

Rock surfaceDry overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust15-25 mphRainPossible · 88%
Main factorsdamp or incompletely dried rock possibleSub-zero temperatures and moisture may leave icy patches on exposed rock
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-22. 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

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 23 Oct, 04:15 BST to 05:55 BST.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

22 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

22 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

22 Oct, 23:00 BST to 23 Oct, 00:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

23 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

23 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 88% illuminated.

Moonset around 23 Oct, 04:15 BST.

Full darkness: 22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 23 Oct, 05:55 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.

Northern Taurids 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.

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 Scafell Pike on Thursday 22 October 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 weather-36Severe hill conditions
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph northerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0045-55 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationAround 20-40 mm Cloud-free summit estimate25% Cloud base through day400-1,000 m Freezing level600-900 m DaylightSunrise 07:56 · Sunset 17:57 · 10.0 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A wild day on the tops of Scafell Pike, with very strong, gusty winds and burns likely to be in spate. Not a day for the summit.

Things to watch

Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through much of the day and into the night, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Snow and navigation

There is a risk of blizzard conditions in the afternoon, when snow and strong winds coincide. Paths and footprints can quickly disappear beneath falling and blowing snow. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Wind

On the summit expect a northerly wind of 35–45 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 45–55 mph at the windiest. The wind turns northerly around midday. 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 75–85 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m in the early afternoon. 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. Where snow covers the ground, the sky and hillside can merge into a featureless white view, making it difficult to judge slope or direction. Do not rely on following a visible path. Avoid exposed routes if you cannot navigate safely in these conditions, and turn back before visibility deteriorates.

Rain and ground

Sleet and snow for much of the day. Expect 20–40 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. 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 -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level falls through the day, to around 700–1000 m by early afternoon. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

Sunset is around 5:55pm, 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.

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.

The Orionids are around their peak and clear, dark spells are forecast: worth a look after midnight. Displays vary, so no promises. Check the After dark forecast below for viewing times and limitations.

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 Severe hill conditions Summit winds around 35-45 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. Rain is forecast during the morning, but models differ considerably on the amount.
-26
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Severe hill conditions More rain is expected. Summit winds around 35-45 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. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
-47

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 above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and about 4 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Friday 23 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect about 4 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Above about 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. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -1°C. 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 rain4.3 mm Open ground · 600 m25 mph · gusts 41 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
94%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
05:41 next morning BST

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: 23 Oct, 17:00 BST to 24 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
21 mph / 34 mph
Typical / low
3.4°C / 2.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 41 mph
Typical / low
2.4°C / 1.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
27% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
31 mph / 51 mph
Typical / low
0.0°C / -0.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
60% 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 -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 & 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. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 45–55 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust45-55 mphRain23.1 mm
Main factorsgusts of 45–55 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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 clear. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-23. All times are UK local time.

Stargazing

Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 06:00 BST.

Mostly clear.

Moon-free dark sky: 24 Oct, 05:35 BST to 06:00 BST.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

23 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

23 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

23 Oct, 23:00 BST to 24 Oct, 00:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BSTMixed sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 06:00 BSTGood sky conditions

Mostly clear.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 94% illuminated.

Moonset around 24 Oct, 05:35 BST.

Full darkness: 23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 24 Oct, 06:00 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.

Northern Taurids 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.

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 Scafell Pike on Friday 23 October 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 weather62Mixed
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-25 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0025-35 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate75% Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:58 · Sunset 17:55 · 9.9 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Scafell Pike: breezy, with clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 35–45 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay clear of cloud all day. The air should be clear too, so expect far-reaching views from the tops.

Rain and ground

Drizzle sets in during the late afternoon. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. The ground is very wet after recent rain, so expect boggy paths.

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 close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

Sunset is around 5:55pm, 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 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 Mixed Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during the morning, but models differ considerably on the amount.
57
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.
68

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 above about 600 m (gusts of about 55 mph and around 19 mm of rain). Lower down, a very poor night to camp up high. 0Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 24 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a very poor night to camp up high. Gusts reach about 55 mph around 900 m and nearer 40 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from southerly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. 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 19 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 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. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 900 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. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain19.1 mm Open ground · 600 m24 mph · gusts 46 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc
98%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
06:09 next morning 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: 24 Oct, 17:00 BST to 25 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
20 mph / 38 mph
Typical / low
6.9°C / 4.2°C · several hours
In cloud
19% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
24 mph / 46 mph
Typical / low
5.0°C / 3.0°C · several hours
In cloud
81% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
29 mph / 55 mph
Typical / low
3.2°C / 1.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
88% 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.

The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.

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. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust25-35 mphRain0.3 mm
Main factorsgusts of 25–35 mphwet rock likelySnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-24. 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: 24 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST.

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

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
24 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

24 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

24 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

24 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

24 Oct, 23:00 BST to 25 Oct, 00:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

25 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BSTPoor sky conditions

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

25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 01:00 BST to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

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

25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 98% illuminated.

Moonset around 25 Oct, 06:00 GMT.

Full darkness: 24 Oct, 19:55 BST to 25 Oct, 05:00 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.

Orionids 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.

  • 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.

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 Scafell Pike on Saturday 24 October 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 weather-36Severe hill conditions
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0035-50 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0060-70 mph Feels like-8 to -4°C PrecipitationAround 10-20 mm Cloud-free summit estimate35% Cloud base through day600-1,500 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:00 · Sunset 16:52 · 9.9 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A wild day on the tops of Scafell Pike, with a real risk of thunderstorms and very strong, gusty winds. Not a day for the summit.

Things to watch

There is a real risk of thunderstorms from early morning into the afternoon. Keep off exposed summits and ridges while storms are around. Storms can bring sudden strong gusts and heavy rain. Storm timing could easily shift by a few hours. Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through the day and overnight, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 35–50 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 60–70 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 15–25 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. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 90–100 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Cloud on the tops early should lift off them by early afternoon. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m early in the morning. A few forecast models bring it lower still, to around 200–500 m. 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

Frequent showers through the day, some of them heavy. Expect 10–20 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 -8 to -4°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. The freezing level is close to summit height. 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 4:50pm, 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.

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 8.8 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.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
2 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0.8 h

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

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Severe hill conditions Summit winds around 35-45 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. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.
-44
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Severe hill conditions Summit winds around 40-50 mph. Gusts around 60-70 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. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later. Rain is forecast during this period.
-27

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

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 75 mph and about 5 mm of rain. 0Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Sunday 25 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 75 mph around 900 m and nearer 55 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. The wind swings from westerly to southwesterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect about 5 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 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 rain4.8 mm Open ground · 600 m27 mph · gusts 64 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc
100%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
07:41 next morning GMT

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

Overnight window: 25 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 53 mph
Typical / low
6.4°C / 3.8°C · several hours
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 64 mph
Typical / low
4.5°C / 3.8°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
31 mph / 75 mph
Typical / low
2.4°C / 1.9°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 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 & 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 60–70 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 real risk of thunderstorms from early morning into the afternoon. Keep off exposed rock and ridges while storms are around. 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust60-70 mphRain20.0 mm
Main factorshigh thunderstorm risk on exposed groundgusts of 60–70 mphwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-25. 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: 25 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

25 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

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

26 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 100% illuminated.

Moonset around 26 Oct, 07:25 GMT.

Full darkness: 25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 26 Oct, 05:00 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.

Orionids 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.

  • 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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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 Scafell Pike on Sunday 25 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

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Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather80Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate65% Cloud base through day1,100-1,400 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:02 · Sunset 16:50 · 9.8 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Scafell Pike: light winds.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 10–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 600–900 m at times. 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 for much of the day. The ground is very wet after recent rain, so expect boggy paths.

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

Sunset is around 4:50pm, 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 Less than 1 hour 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
Less than 1 hour
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 forecast during this period.
84
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 this period.
75

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 above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and around 17 mm of rain). Lower down, a very poor night to camp up high. 0Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Monday 26 October 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a very poor night to camp up high. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. 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 17 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 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 900 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain16.9 mm Open ground · 600 m19 mph · gusts 43 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Near-full moon

Illuminated disc
99%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
Outside this window

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

Overnight window: 26 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
16 mph / 36 mph
Typical / low
6.3°C / 5.8°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
19 mph / 43 mph
Typical / low
6.3°C / 5.8°C · much of the night
In cloud
33% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
23 mph / 51 mph
Typical / low
3.7°C / 3.3°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 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.

The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.

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. Poor40 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. 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.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust15-25 mphRain1.6 mm
Main concernwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Sandstone or gritstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Sandstone or gritstone in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
High confidence
View the summit BGS record

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
Mapped variation

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.

Summit-area sample Volcaniclastic sandstone and breccia Seathwaite Fell Sandstone Formation 520–959 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 2 more

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 record
Route sample Dacitic lapilli-tuff Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation 632–853 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Old County Tops, Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale and 1 more

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 record
Route sample Andesite Birker Fell Andesite Formation 69–404 m samples Seen on Wainwright Bob Graham Round, Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Dacite Scafell Dacite Member 738–843 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

Rhyolite 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 record
Route sample Rhyolitic lapilli-tuff Long Top Tuff Member 512–625 m samples Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Wasdale

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 record
Route sample Andesite Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 550 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Andesite 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 record
Route sample Felsic tuff Crinkle Tuff Member Around 438 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

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 record
Route sample Microgabbro Lake District Ordovician Minor Intrusion Suite Around 336 m Seen on Wainwright Scafell Pike Corridor Borrowdale

Dolerite 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 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-10-26. 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: 26 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
26 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

26 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

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

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

27 Oct, 05:00 GMT to 05:05 GMTPoor sky conditions

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

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-full moon, about 99% illuminated.

Full darkness: 26 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 27 Oct, 05:05 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.

Orionids 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.

  • 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.

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 Scafell Pike on Monday 26 October 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: 2026-10-19

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.

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