Mountain weather
Brecon Beacons Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for blustery, showery conditions as we head for the weekend and feeling colder too, showers turning wintry on the summits, lower confidence on amount of showers and risk of hazards like hail and thunder. High confidence for more settled and dry conditions later on Sunday and early next week.
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.
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.
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.
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
Blustery showers, some bright spells too, strong southwesterly winds, summit gales.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
28
|
SW
26
|
SW
27
|
SW
29
|
SW
29
|
SW
29
|
| 300m |
SW
15
|
SW
17
|
SW
19
|
SW
20
|
SW
20
|
SW
19
|
| Valley |
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
SW
17
|
SW
19
|
SW
17
|
SW
16
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 36 | 36 | 39 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| 300m | 33 | 32 | 37 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
| Valley | 30 | 31 | 36 | 39 | 37 | 36 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gusty winds in showers, reaching 50 to 55mph on the tops. Freezing level above all summits but feeling cold in showers and gusty winds.
Weather
Cloudy with showers overnight, some showers may be of hail and a rumble of thunder is possible. Strong winds will enhance the chill effect. During the day there will be some bright or sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly in the afternoon, some places may miss these altogether. Showers tending to move through quite quickly in the blustery winds but some hail or thunder is possible.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, some low cloud shrouding western tops at times if showers cluster together.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches or scattered cloud above 600m are likely at times, especially towards western hills in any heavier showers. Cloud should clear relatively quickly after showers with good visibility outwith showers, turning moderate or poor in heavier showers.
Recent rainfall
Location: Neuadd (Near Pontsticill)
Altitude: 353m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2mm | 27.8mm | 38.8mm |
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
Further blustery showers initially, showers dying out through the morning. A mainly dry and bright afternoon and with winds easing it will feel pleasant outwith showers. A significant windchill in the morning in the strong winds and showery conditions. Tending to become cloudy later in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, cloud associated with frequent morning showers clustering together at times.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 25 gusts 40mph becoming southwesterly 15 gust 25mph.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 1 rising to 5 Celsius
- Valley Plus 5 rising to 10 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above all summits
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered or broken cloud layers forming around 600m in heavier showers or where showers group together during the morning. Cloud becoming more patchy later in the day as showers ease. Visibility poor for a time in any groups of showers, moderate in lighter showers and mainly good outwith showers and later in the day.
Mountain weather information
Sun 26 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Although initially cloudy with some rain, becoming a bright day and dry day. Freezing level falling to 600m. Fresh northerly winds, gusty at times.
Mon 27 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A bright and dry day with a lot of sunshine, light winds but feeling quite cold with freezing level around 400m.
Tue 28 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry start with some bright spells but thickening cloud from the west will bring rain later. Light winds at first, strengthening from the south. Freezing level rising towards the summits later.
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 Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales comprising six main peaks, with the highest peak, Pen y Fan, standing at 886 metres.
The summits of each peak form a long ridge with four of the peaks forming a horseshoe shape around the head of the Taf Fechan River which flows away to the south-east. The Brecon Beacons is said to be named after the ancient practice of lighting signal fires (beacons) on mountains to warn of attacks by invaders, or more recently to commemorate public and national events such as coronations or the Millennium.
For ardent mountain climbers, the Brecon Beacons National Park is among the best that Britain has to offer. While it doesn't have some of the headline-grabbing peaks of Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands, it fits scores of slightly smaller mountains into its relatively compact 519 square mile area. These include the area's highest peak, Pen y Fan, as well as the marginally smaller Corn Du (873 metres). Both offer rather hospitable, anvil-shaped summits to those who reach the top, with plenty of space for rest and photographs, before tackling the descent.