You’re standing on Highgate, the rain is horizontal, and you’re wondering why your "waterproof" jacket feels like a wet paper towel. Welcome to Kendal. People call it the Gateway to the Lakes, but honestly, it’s more like the gateway to a very specific, damp, and oddly charming microclimate.
The weather in Kendal UK is legendary, mostly for the wrong reasons. Travelers often expect a constant, misty drizzle because we're in Cumbria, but that’s a massive oversimplification. It’s actually a town of wild swings. One minute you’re squinting against a blindingly bright sun reflecting off the limestone buildings, and ten minutes later, you’re dodging a flash flood near the River Kent.
It’s unpredictable. Really unpredictable.
Why the weather in Kendal UK is so weirdly specific
If you look at a map, Kendal sits in a bit of a bowl. To the north and west, you have the massive fells of the Lake District catching all that moist Atlantic air. To the south, the land flattens out toward Morecambe Bay. This position creates a "rain shadow" effect that sometimes saves the town while Ambleside—just 13 miles up the road—gets absolutely hammered.
But don't get too excited. Kendal still gets its fair share of the wet stuff. On average, you’re looking at about 40 inches (around 1,000mm) of rain a year. Compare that to London’s 24 inches, and yeah, we’re definitely in the "bring an umbrella" category.
What's fascinating is how the temperature behaves. Even in the height of summer, July highs usually hover around 18°C or 19°C. It rarely gets properly "hot" by global standards. When the mercury hits 25°C, the locals start acting like they’re in the Sahara. Conversely, winters are long and grey, but rarely brutal. January averages stay around 3°C to 5°C. It’s the kind of cold that gets into your bones because of the humidity, rather than the kind that freezes your pipes solid.
The four seasons (and the fifth one: Mud)
Spring in Kendal is a tease. You get these glorious bursts of yellow daffodils—Wordsworth’s favorites—usually around late March. But April is a liar. You’ll have a morning that feels like a Mediterranean spring and an afternoon that throws a random hailstorm at your face. It's actually one of the drier times of year, technically speaking, but "dry" is a relative term here.
Summer is when the town really wakes up. Events like Kendal Calling (the massive music festival nearby) are basically a rite of passage. If you go, you prepare for the "Kendal Washout." It’s almost a tradition that it rains at least once during the festival, turning the fields into a giant slide of Cumbrian sludge. July and August are the "warmest" months, but they are also surprisingly wet. August actually sees some of the heaviest rainfall totals because of summer thunderstorms.
- Spring (March–May): 7°C to 13°C. High chance of "four seasons in one day."
- Summer (June–August): 14°C to 19°C. Long days (sunset after 9:30 PM in June!) but often damp.
- Autumn (September–November): 8°C to 14°C. The most beautiful season. The trees turn bronze, the air gets crisp, and the crowds finally go home.
- Winter (December–February): 2°C to 6°C. Grey. Very grey. Snow is rare in the town center but common on the surrounding hills like Benson Knott.
Surviving the "Kendal Mist"
Locals have a word for it: mizzly. It’s that fine, needle-like rain that doesn’t look heavy but soaks you to the skin in three minutes. If you’re visiting, your choice of gear matters more than your itinerary.
Forget umbrellas. The wind coming off the fells will just turn them inside out. You want a proper shell—something with Gore-Tex or a high hydrostatic head rating. I’ve seen tourists walking up Beast Banks in denim jackets during an October downpour, and honestly, it’s heartbreaking. Denim is a sponge. Don't be that person.
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Also, let’s talk about the wind. Kendal isn't the windiest place in the UK, but the way the valley funnels air can make it feel like a wind tunnel. March is historically the windiest month, with gusts often hitting 40mph or more. If you’re planning on hiking nearby fells like Scout Scar, check the "Mountain Weather Information Service" (MWIS). The weather at the top is often 5 degrees colder and twice as windy as it is in the town center.
Flooding: The elephant in the room
We can’t talk about weather in Kendal UK without mentioning the River Kent. It’s one of the fastest-flowing rivers in England. Most of the time, it’s a beautiful feature of the town, with people feeding ducks near Abbot Hall. But when we get "Atmospheric Rivers"—long plumes of moisture from the Atlantic—the Kent can turn mean.
The 2015 Storm Desmond was the big one. It dumped record-breaking rain across Cumbria and flooded hundreds of homes in Kendal. Since then, millions have been spent on flood defenses. You’ll see new walls and glass barriers along the riverbanks now. It's a reminder that while the weather is mostly just an inconvenience, it can occasionally be a force of nature that changes the town's landscape.
When should you actually visit?
If you want the best odds of a "nice" day, aim for May or June. Historically, May is often the sunniest month. The daylight hours are massive—you can still be out for a stroll at 10:00 PM and see where you’re going.
September is my personal favorite. The heavy summer humidity breaks, the light gets a golden, painterly quality, and the rainfall is usually lower than in August. Plus, the Lake District colors are spectacular.
If you’re coming in winter, do it for the atmosphere. There is nothing quite like sitting in a pub like The Fleece or The Ring o' Bells with a pint of local ale while it's miserable outside. The weather makes the interiors feel ten times cozier.
Actionable tips for your trip:
- Layer up, always: A base layer, a fleece, and a waterproof shell. Even in August. Especially in August.
- Check the "Weatherline" forecast: This is a dedicated Lake District service that uses data from "Fell Top Assessors" who climb the mountains daily.
- Footwear is non-negotiable: Kendal’s streets are steep and can be slippery when wet. Leather boots or high-traction sneakers are a must.
- Don't trust the iPhone app: Local topography messes with generic global models. Use the Met Office app; it’s usually much more tuned into the Cumbrian microclimates.
- Have a Plan B: If the clouds drop low (what we call "clag"), cancel the hike and head to the Brewery Arts Centre or the Quaker Tapestry Museum. There's no point being on a hill if you can't see your own boots.
The reality is that the weather is part of Kendal’s soul. Without the rain, we wouldn't have the lush green hills or the roaring river that powered the town’s old woolen mills. Embrace the damp. Just buy a better jacket first.
To get the most out of your visit, keep an eye on the Met Office Cumbrian warnings and always pack a spare pair of dry socks in your bag—you’ll thank me later.