Weather Forecast

Produced by the Met Office

Forecast for daylight hours for Tuesday and Wednesday

Issued: Monday, 15 March 2010

FELLTOP CONDITIONS REPORT from Helvellyn at 1230pm on Monday 15th March 2010.Despite the ongoing thaw, there I still extensive snow cover on fells above 600m, with drifts and pockets of snow up to 80cm deep. Some exposed areas have a covering of hard packed snow and ice, but much of the top layer is wet and unconsolidated, which makes for very slippery conditions underfoot. Cornices are still extensive on east-facing slopes and should be given a wide berth particularly in these warmer temperatures. Both Striding and Swirral Edge are still in full winter condition, with loose snow on the steep exit ramps, and should only be negotiated by the experienced. Full winter clothing, footwear and equipment including ice axe and crampons are essential for anyone venturing out onto the fells and going above the snowline. The ice covering the upland tarns is currently thawing and is very unstable, so please keep well back from the edges.Summit statistics from Helvellyn at 1230pm:Temperature: 0.8 cWind chill: minus 7.4 cMax wind speed: 29.3 mphAverage wind speed: 15.7 mph (northwesterly)

Overview for Tuesday

A mostly dry and bright day with spells of sunshine developing, but there will be some hill fog around at first. Still ice or snow underfoot.

Hazards

Severe chill effect: Low risk - Winds freshening later, with a significant wind chill developing in fresh winds.
Persistent extensive hill fog: Low risk - Occasional hill fog above 500 metres at first in the morning.

Forecast for Tuesday

Weather:

A mainly dry day. Rather cloudy with hill fog at first, but it will become brighter during the morning, and some cloud breaks will allow spells of sunshine to develop. Conditions underfoot will be difficult, with extensive snow and ice above 600 metres, which is thawing very slowly.

Visibility:

Generally good, with clear views of hills in the middle distance. However, poor in hill fog at first.

Hill Fog:

Occasional hill fog above 500 metres during the early part of the morning. Otherwise cloud bases mostly above summits, with patches at 700 metres or higher.

Maximum winds above 500m:

Light at first, but becoming Southerly 20 mph with gusts to 30mph

Temperature:

Valleys/Low level: 3 Celsius rising to 8 or 9 Celsius
At 900m: Plus 1 Celsius
Freezing level: Generally above summits, but snow and ice
underfoot above 600 metres.

Chance of precipitation:

Dawn - 0900: Cloudy. 10% chance of rain
0900 - 1200: Sunny intervals. 0%
1200 - 1500: Sunny intervals. 0%
1500 - Dusk: Sunny intervals. 0%

Forecast for Wednesday

Weather:

A rather cloudy day. The cloud will be thick enough to give some patchy rain or drizzle at times, especially during the early part of the morning, when it may turn briefly to sleet or snow above 900 metres. However, much of the day will be dry, with some bright spells at times. There will be a fair amount of hill fog, especially in the west. Strong winds over summits will give a severe wind chill.

Visibility:

Mainly good, with clear views of near and middle distance hills, but poor in hill fog.

Hill Fog:

Periods of hill fog above 600 metres, with occasional patches as low as 300 metres, which will be more persistent over western fells.

Maximum winds above 500m:

Southwest 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph over exposed ridges.

Temperature:

Valleys/Low level: 4 Celsius rising to 9 Celsius
At 900m: Plus 1 Celsius
Freezing level: Above summits, but slowly thawing ice and snow
above 600 metres.

Thursday

A cloudy day, and although it may start dry, much of the day will be quite wet, with periods of moderate occasionally heavy rain, not clearing till early evening. There will also be quite extensive hill fog, making navigation difficult, and a strong to gale force wind over summits, giving a severe wind chill. The rain will accelerate the thaw of existing snow, and streams and rivers will be in full spate by the end of the day.

Friday

A dry start to the day, but it will be cloudy, and further rain will spread in during the morning, this becoming heavy at times and persisting through the afternoon. hill fog will become extensive, and the wind will become very strong for a time over the summits.

Saturday

A day of bright spells and showers, the bulk of these during the afternoon. Fresh or strong winds will give a severe wind chill over summits.

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