Mountain weather
Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for general developments. Medium for cloud details.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Rain then brightening skies and blustery showers. Windy with severe wind chill.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
90% | 80% | 50% | 30% | 60% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
29
|
W
37
|
W
34
|
W
31
|
W
30
|
W
28
|
| 300m |
SW
16
|
W
23
|
W
21
|
W
20
|
W
19
|
W
18
|
| Valley |
SW
12
|
W
21
|
W
19
|
W
17
|
W
16
|
W
16
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 36 | 47 | 46 | 42 | 41 | 38 |
| 300m | 34 | 46 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 36 |
| Valley | 30 | 45 | 42 | 39 | 36 | 34 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
5°
|
7°
|
8°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
9°
|
10°
|
8°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,400m
|
2,000m
|
1,700m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
7°
|
5°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Note the wind speeds at height with buffeting. Gusts around 50mph over the summits. Significant wind-chill developing.
Weather
Low cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle during Saturday morning. Cloud beginning to lift and break from around midday, bright spells and heavy blustery showers during the afternoon, these turning increasingly wintry over the summits by the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% early morning, rising to 70% during the day, but lowering significantly as the showers pass through.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, base 300 to 600m early morning, the cloud then lifting and breaking to be near the summits around midday. However broken bases 500m or less as the heavy, blustery showers push through. Moderate to very poor visibility in morning rain and drizzle. Becoming excellent as the cloud lifts and breaks, lowering to poor near showers as they push through.
Recent rainfall
Location: Neuadd (Near Pontsticill)
Altitude: 353m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6mm | 13.8mm | 40mm |
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
Heavy snow showers overnight and during the morning with some drifting and temporary whiteout conditions over the summits. The snow showers becoming more scattered through Sunday afternoon and evening with sunny or clear spells developing. Stormy over the summits.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% becoming 80% by dusk.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or Northwest 45mph gusting around 60mph with severe wind chill, buffeting and the risk of being blown over.
Temperature
- At 600m Zero to Minus 2 degrees Celsius.
- Valley Plus 2 rising to Plus 7 degrees Celsius.
- Freezing level Around 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud around the summits overnight and during the morning, bases falling 300m or less in heavier snow showers. Cloud becoming well scattered or clear at times during the afternoon and evening. Visibility very poor in snow with white out and blizzard conditions at height, but becoming mostly very good or excellent in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Mon 23 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Clear and cold at first. Rain and snow developing, rain at all levels by evening with a thaw setting in. Fresh to strong northwest, becoming west winds at height. Freezing level well down at first, but rising above the summits by evening.
Tue 24 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy with occasional drizzle. Fresh west or southwesterly winds at height. Mild.
Wed 25 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy. Some drizzle. Fresh to strong southwesterly winds at height. Mild.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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.