Mountain weather
Snowdonia Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for cold conditions continuing but lower regarding distribution of any showers and, especially Saturday morning, cloud details
This evening forecast
A few snow showers across northern hills, otherwise dry with long clear spells. Fresh northeasterly winds
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.
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
Cold with sunny spells and, in north and west, occasional snow showers. Winds easing
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 30% | 20% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
N
14
|
NE
14
|
N
12
|
NW
10
|
W
12
|
W
14
|
W
13
|
W
11
|
| 600m |
NE
6
|
NE
7
|
NE
7
|
N
5
|
W
7
|
W
8
|
W
7
|
SW
6
|
| 300m |
N
3
|
E
3
|
SW
4
|
SW
3
|
W
5
|
W
4
|
W
4
|
W
3
|
| Valley |
N
3
|
NE
3
|
NE
4
|
S
4
|
W
6
|
W
5
|
W
4
|
W
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m | 18 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 |
| 600m | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| 300m | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Valley | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Valley |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Eastern valley temperatures at dawn locally minus 4 or 5 Celsius.
Weather
A few showers continue to affect northern hills overnight, elsewhere most places dry with long clear spells and a widespread frost, perhaps a few low level mist or freezing fog patches in the east. Then a bright day with, especially in the south and east, some good spells of sunshine, with snow showers likely across northern and western hills, perhaps the odd heavy one. Showers ease a little through the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 60% in the north and west but close to 100% in south and east.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or periods in the north and west above about 600m but little or no cloud below the summits in the south and east. Away from cloud visibility excellent but a kilometre or less in any early low level mist and freezing fog and at times in snow showers.
Ground conditions
Please see - https://snowdonia.gov.wales/visit/snowdon/yr-wyddfa-ground-conditions-reports/
Mountain weather information
Weather
Occasionally heavy snow showers are expected to affect northern and western hills overnight, with southern and eastern parts dry and largely clear. Then a rather cloudy morning with snow showers, most frequent across the north and west. Becoming brighter by afternoon with eastern parts seeing the best of the sunshine as the showers become increasingly confined to the north and west.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance at first becoming 60% in north and west and 75% in east by early afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Variable 10mph or less.
Temperature
- At 800m Around minus 4 Celsius
- Valley Around minus 2 or 3 Celsius overnight rising to 3 or 4 Celsius by day
- Freezing level Around 300m
Low cloud and visibility
Periods or persistent cloud above 450-600m at first gradually lifting and breaking to become, especially in the east more occasional above 600m through the morning. Away from the cloud visibility very good but a kilometre or less in snow showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
One or two light snow showers but most places dry with sunny spells. Light easterly winds. Freezing level around 300m.
Mon 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with sunny spells. Feeling bitterly cold at height in the strengthening easterly winds. Frozen surfaces persisting away from the valleys.
Tue 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with some rather hazy sunny spells. Strong, bitterly cold easterly winds. Freezing levels around 300m.
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 Snowdonia mountains are made up of 90 mountain peaks including the tallest mountain in Wales, Snowdon, standing at 1,085 metres.
The region can be divided into four areas with the northernmost area the most popular, including peaks such as Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge. Many hikers tend to concentrate on Snowdon itself regarding it as a fine mountain. However it can become quite crowded, with the peak welcoming around half a million visitors every year, of which four fifths scale the peak on foot, while the remainder choose to take the train instead.
One of Snowdon’s main attractions is the sheer number and variety of paths that reach the peak. This means that everyone from mountaineering novices to climbing experts should find a way up the mountain that will suit their abilities or provide them with a sufficient test. The easiest is the Llanberis path which, being the longest, has the most shallow ascent. In contrast, the Watkin Path is widely seen as being the most demanding ascent, despite also being considered the prettiest.