Mountain weather

Eryri / Snowdonia

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Eryri / Snowdonia Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence for unsettled, cold and windy conditions throughout this period. Lower for daily rain and snow details, especially from Tuesday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

A cold, breezy day with occasional rain later.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Partly cloudy (night) Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Light rain Fog Fog
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 10% 10% 20% 50% 60% 60%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m SE
29
 E
30
 SE
30
 E
26
 E
24
 E
28
600m SE
20
 SE
13
 SE
22
 SE
15
 E
13
 SE
16
300m SE
10
 E
10
 SE
17
 SE
7
 E
7
 SE
11
Valley SE
10
 SE
10
 SE
16
 SE
7
 E
6
 SE
10
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m 34 37 36 32 29 35
600m 26 22 29 20 19 26
300m 23 22 28 16 15 22
Valley 22 22 28 16 15 22

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
1°
0°
0°
1°
1°
0°
600m
3°
2°
3°
3°
3°
2°
300m
5°
5°
6°
6°
5°
4°
Valley
6°
6°
7°
8°
6°
5°
Freezing Level
900m
800m
800m
1,000m
1,000m
900m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
900m
-7°
-8°
-8°
-7°
-6°
-8°
600m
-2°
-2°
-3°
-1°
-2°
-3°
300m
2°
1°
2°
4°
3°
0°
Valley
3°
3°
4°
6°
4°
2°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

A very cold day in the hills, even at modest elevations, with a severe wind chill.

Weather

Any early showers clearing to give a generally dry morning across the range with some clear spells. Cloud will tend to thicken into the afternoon however, bringing occasional rain into the evening with lowering cloud bases. Rain perhaps turning to sleet to wet snow at times above around 900-1000m. Fresh easterly winds through the morning will tend to slowly ease through the day. Feeling cold throughout.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80% initially, but becoming 30% through the afternoon as cloud thickens.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases largely above summits through the morning to become increasingly thick down to about 500-700m into the afternoon. Visibility generally good but becoming occasionally moderate to poor in precipitation, and locally very poor at height.

Ground conditions

Please see - https://yrwyddfa.live/

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Mostly dry and cloudy through the day, perhaps the odd spot of rain or snow. Winds will strengthen with rain, sleet and snow arriving in the afternoon or evening but low confidence in timings. Feeling bitterly cold with a severe wind chill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%.

Maximum wind speed expected

East or SE 20 to 25mph gusts 30mph, increasing 40mph gusts 60mph later on ridges and summits.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 or 2C.
  • Valley Plus 5 or 6C.
  • Freezing level 600m.

Low cloud and visibility

Rather extensive cloud above 500 or 600m. Otherwise mainly good visibility for most of the day becoming widely poor late in the day with a chance of blizzards on the tops.

Mountain weather information

Tue 27 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Heavy spells of sleet and snow. Severe conditions with southerly gales and blizzards. Becoming brighter with a few wintry showers in the afternoon. Freezing level 400m, rising to 800m later

Wed 28 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry and bright start then rain, sleet or snow spreading east later. Strong southerly winds. Freezing level 800m.

Thu 29 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining unsettled and windy with periods of rain or hill snow.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The Eryri (Snowdonia) mountains are made up of 90 mountain peaks including the tallest mountain in Wales, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), standing at 1,085 metres.

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