Mountain weather
Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high throughout the forecast period with the main uncertainties around cloud amounts and height of the cloud inversion.
This evening forecast
Dry but cloudy with hill fog this evening, although cloud may lift off the summits towards midnight. Strong northeast winds gusting around 35-40 mph across the summits, and feeling cold with the freezing level around 400m.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold and windy with a chance of summit gales, but dry and sunny.
| 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) |
<05% | <05% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% |
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 |
NE
24
|
NE
25
|
NE
31
|
NE
30
|
NE
30
|
NE
29
|
NE
27
|
NE
26
|
| 300m |
NE
15
|
NE
15
|
NE
18
|
NE
16
|
NE
19
|
NE
18
|
NE
16
|
NE
15
|
| Valley |
NE
13
|
NE
14
|
NE
17
|
NE
17
|
NE
17
|
E
15
|
E
14
|
E
15
|
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 | 33 | 34 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 37 |
| 300m | 29 | 29 | 36 | 34 | 37 | 35 | 33 | 32 |
| Valley | 28 | 30 | 37 | 38 | 36 | 33 | 31 | 34 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Freezing Level |
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
200m
|
300m
|
400m
|
200m
|
200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gusts are likely to reach 50-55 mph over the higher summits, perhaps 60 mph late afternoon, giving a bitterly cold wind chill and a risk of being blown over.
Weather
Low cloud lifts and breaks through the early hours. Then dry and sunny on Christmas day, but bitterly cold on the tops in strong to gale force summit winds. Clear skies in the evening, perhaps a little patchy cloud towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% or more
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy summit cloud will disperse before dawn to give excellent visibility with no cloud on the hills.
Recent rainfall
Location: Neuadd (Near Pontsticill)
Altitude: 353m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8mm | 9.4mm | 14.8mm |
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
Cloud lowering through the early hours to give a dry but dull day in the valleys and lower slopes. The higher summits are likely to be above the cloud in the morning, but a chance that cloud rises to envelop the summits in the afternoon. Little change in the evening, but a chance of clearing skies by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% in the morning, 30% in the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
East-northeast 30 gusting 40 mph
Temperature
- At 600m Minus 3 Celsius rising to around zero Celsius, but the higher summits plus 1 Celsius in the morning falling to minus 1 Celsius in the afternoon.
- Valley Minus 2 Celsius rising to plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level 200m rising to 600m.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility in cloud on lower slopes in the morning, but very good visibility above 700-750m with summits above the cloud. Cloud bases rising to around 600m in the afternoon giving good visibility at lower levels, but occasionally poor visibility on the summits as cloud tops rise.
Mountain weather information
Sat 27 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and sunny but cold with strong to gale force east or northeast winds. Freezing level around 500m to start but soon above the summits. Low cloud spreads west late evening.
Sun 28 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dull day with hill fog and a little patchy light drizzle at times, although a chance that the highest summits could be above the cloud at times. Moderate to fresh easterly winds. Freezing level 700m.
Mon 29 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Most likely a drier brighter day than Sunday, but still some patchy low cloud. Moderate easterly winds. Freezing level 500m.
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.