Mountain weather
Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for an unsettled, windy and rather cold spell with weather fronts moving in from the Atlantic, but some uncertainty in the timings. Saturday looks the most promising day for drier and brighter weather.
This evening forecast
Rain through the evening, often heavy, with snow above 600m later. Strong southwest winds and a severe wind chill. Gales on the tops.
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.
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.
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
Sunny spells and wintry showers. Strong winds slowly easing. Cold.
| 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) |
90% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
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 |
W
27
|
W
25
|
W
23
|
SW
20
|
W
20
|
W
19
|
SW
14
|
W
13
|
| 300m |
W
18
|
W
16
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
W
14
|
SW
10
|
W
8
|
| Valley |
W
15
|
W
14
|
W
12
|
W
13
|
W
11
|
W
12
|
W
8
|
W
7
|
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 | 38 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 20 | 19 |
| 300m | 35 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 17 |
| Valley | 33 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 16 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
4°
|
3°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
500m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A very cold day with a severe wind chill on the tops. Gusts of 40 to 50mph above 600m overnight and early morning.
Weather
Rain, with snow down to 400m, clearing southeast soon after midnight, then clear spells and a few wintry showers in the early hours. A mixture of sunny intervals and occasional sleet or snow showers during the day with snow mainly above 400m. A small chance of hail and thunder.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%.
Low cloud and visibility
Visibility mainly good between showers. Patchy cloud above 700m, falling lower at times in showers with visibility occasionally a few km or less.
Recent rainfall
Location: Neuadd (Near Pontsticill)
Altitude: 353m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 11.6mm | 22.6mm | 22.8mm |
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
Mostly dry with bright or clear spells and just the odd isolated shower possible, wintry above 500m. Turning cloudy in the evening with patchy rain by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, becoming 30% in evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or SW 10 to 15mph gusts 25mph.
Temperature
- At 600m 0C rising to 2C.
- Valley Plus 2C rising to 8C.
- Freezing level 600m rising to 800m.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility. Some brief reductions in any showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 15 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Outbreaks of rain overnight and to start the morning. Bright spells and blustery showers following, wintry above 600m. Strong to gale force southwest winds. Freezing level above summits, falling to 700m later.
Mon 16 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with wintry showers dying out, then outbreaks of rain and summit snow arriving later. Remaining cold and windy with southwesterly gales on the tops. Freezing level 400m rising to 700m.
Tue 17 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Outbreaks of rain with strong winds likely. Milder with freezing level above summits.
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.