Mountain weather
Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a largely fine but cold day Saturday but lower for timings for the arrival of evening snow, clearance on Sunday and change to northerly winds Monday, and low for details from Tuesday..
This evening forecast
Cloud and outbreaks of mainly light snow clearing south towards midnight with clear spells developing following. Feeling bitterly cold despite the strong northeasterly winds easing.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly dry with sunny spells but cloud increasing, evening snow. Windy in evening
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
10% | <05% | 00% | 00% | 00% | <05% | 10% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
N
19
|
N
14
|
N
8
|
N
6
|
W
4
|
SW
7
|
S
15
|
S
22
|
| 300m |
N
9
|
N
5
|
W
3
|
SW
2
|
W
3
|
SW
5
|
S
7
|
S
11
|
| Valley |
N
7
|
N
4
|
W
4
|
W
3
|
W
3
|
SW
5
|
S
4
|
S
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 24 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 31 |
| 300m | 20 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 25 |
| Valley | 19 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 21 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
600m
|
700m
|
400m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-7°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Very cold at height despite the sunshine. Gusts close to 55mph over higher ridges and summits in late evening.
Weather
Any remaining evening snow soon clearing then dry through the early hours with long clear spells developing. Then a sunny start but, the sunshine becoming increasingly hazy as cloud above the summits increases towards midday. The afternoon remains dry but cloud above the summits continues to thicken. Outbreaks of snow, becoming occasionally heavy, will spread east through the evening, with the possibility, especially on higher summits, of blizzard conditions.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
100% through daylight hours, but chances fall towards zero through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
No cloud expected below summit level through daylight hours but becoming periods or persistent cloud above 450-600m, with patches below, from the west through the evening. Away from cloud, visibility generally excellent with good panoramic views of surrounding hills and mountains, but just a few kilometres in snow later, and near zero in heavier snow and blizzards.
Recent rainfall
Location: Neuadd (Near Pontsticill)
Altitude: 353m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 8mm | 12.6mm | 26.2mm |
Measurement date:
Rainfall data provided by Natural Resources Wales. The Met Office is not responsible for content provided by third parties and may remove this data without warning.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloud and occasionally heavy snow, with blizzard conditions possible at higher levels, turning increasingly to as rain through the early hours. The rain clears east through the morning with heavy showers following for the afternoon and evening, these increasingly wintry above about 750m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance through much of the morning improving to 60% towards midday.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 25 to 35mph, gusts around 60mph over ridges and summits, becoming westerly 20-25mph, gusts around 40mph over ridges and summits, by late morning.
Temperature
- At 600m Around minus 3 Celsius rising to around plus 3 Celsius, falling back to zero in afternoon
- Valley Around plus 2 Celsius rising to plus 6 or 7 Celsius by day
- Freezing level 400m soon rising above the summits, falling back towards the highest summits later
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud above 450-600m, with patches below, through much of the morning becoming more occasional above 600-750m towards midday. Away from cloud, visibility just a few kilometres in rain and snow, but less than a kilometre in heavier snow and near zero in blizzards through the early hours, becoming very good or excellent by midday with temporary reductions in showers.
Mountain weather information
Mon 16 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and wintry showers, these turning to snow above 600m later as the occasionally strong westerly wind turns more northerly. Freezing level just above the summits, falling to 600m later.
Tue 17 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with sunny spells, cloud increasing later with risk of evening rain and summit snow. Fresh northerly winds easing and backing easterly. Freezing level 600m, rising to around 900m.
Wed 18 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain and summits snow clearing overnight but more cloud and occasionally heavy rain spreading east from late morning. Strengthening easterly or southeasterly breeze. Freezing level 900m, rising later.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales comprising six main peaks, with the highest peak, Pen y Fan, standing at 886 metres.