Mountain weather
Snowdonia Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for continued wintery weather on Thursday and becoming more settled from Friday onwards.
This evening forecast
Heavy snow will continue this evening with fresh northwesterly 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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Outbreaks of snow becoming lighter, strong westerly winds may cause some drifting and a severe wind chill.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
50% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
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 |
NW
36
|
W
38
|
W
35
|
W
33
|
W
33
|
W
28
|
W
28
|
W
27
|
| 600m |
NW
23
|
W
25
|
W
24
|
SW
22
|
W
25
|
W
18
|
W
17
|
W
17
|
| 300m |
NW
15
|
W
16
|
W
16
|
W
14
|
W
16
|
W
11
|
W
10
|
W
10
|
| Valley |
NW
15
|
W
16
|
W
16
|
W
15
|
W
17
|
W
12
|
W
11
|
W
11
|
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 | 43 | 47 | 43 | 41 | 42 | 35 | 34 | 33 |
| 600m | 30 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 25 | 23 | 23 |
| 300m | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Valley | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900m |
-12°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Valley |
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gale force gusts on the summits in the morning with a severe wind chill likely. Access roads may see some accumulations at low level.
Weather
Heavy sleet and snow will continue overnight but will become more showery by dawn with a few drier periods especially in the west. The rest of the day will be quite dull and cloudy with a few outbreaks of sleet and snow. There may be some drifting of snow in the strong westerly winds and access roads could easily become blocked. Mainly dry by early evening with a few clearer spells developing.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
10-20% there will be a lot of low cloud associated with snow and sleety outbreaks, cloud will break in the afternoon increasing the chance to 30-40% and perhaps more chance in the west.
Visibility
Generally very poor visibility with extensive low cloud base 300m and upwards, this will lift in the west in the morning to 600m. Visibility will improve in the afternoon as cloud lifts and there are less wintery outbreaks.
Ground conditions
No recent ground conditions report available.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mixture of sunshine and blustery wintery showers and feeling very cold.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
40-60% still some low cloud associated with showers.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 15mph with gusts 25mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 Celsius.
- Valley Zero rising to plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level 600m
Visibility
Although the main cloud bases will be above the summits there will be scattered cloud falling below the tops to a base around 600m at times. Visibility may become poor or very poor in any heavier wintery showers.
Mountain weather information
Saturday 23 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A few wintery showers and some sunny intervals and light southwesterly winds. Freezing level around 200m.
Sunday 24 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another pleasant winters day with some long sunny intervals, although there is the risk of a few wintery showers. Light southwesterly winds. Freezing level around 400m
Monday 25 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Further wintery showers but also some winter sunshine and fresh southwesterly winds, still feeling cold.
Updated at:
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.