Mountain weather

Snowdonia

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Snowdonia Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for a cold, showery and still windy couple of days and for milder, wetter conditions from mid-week, but lower confidence for timings of showers, snow level and amounts of rainfall Wednesday and Thursday.

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A few clear spells, but mostly cloudy with showers, some heavy and falling as snow down to 500m. Strong or gale force southwesterly winds.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.
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 Heavy snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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 Heavy persistent rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

hazard Storm force winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
hazard 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 hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

A windy day with showers and snow falling on the tops and showers likely to merge to give a longer spell of rain and summit snow in the morning. Some bright or sunny spells, but mostly in the afternoon.

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Additional weather information

Weather

Mostly cloudy overnight with showers, these falling as snow down to 500m. Some bright spells through the day but with scattered showers, these wintry down to 600m, but cloudier mid to late morning with showers merging to give a longer spell of heavy rain and summit snow. Temporary blizzard conditions at height with risk of thunder and hail too. Best of the days weather in east in the afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

40 or 50%, with cloud often down to 500m, though 10 or 20% chance for a time in morning with more prolonged rain and snow bringing extensive cloud down to 400m.

Ground conditions

Area - Snowdon Date - 14 February 2020 Time - 10.00am Snow Above - 600metres Report By - Snowdon warden Route Taken Llanberis path Conditions Isolated patches of snow on path. Depth of snow increases with altitude. Sections of ice on paths. Essential Kit The following is a list of additional kit required based on the current conditions. Standard winter kit required. Ice axe and crampons recommended. Additional Information It gets ark at 17.20 . For archived reports see - http://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/walking/ground-conditions

Visibility

Good beneath cloud, but moderate or poor in rain and showers and very poor at height in cloud and snow.

Meteorologist's view

Blustery and gusty winds and average speeds at lower levels likely stronger then shown on tables, by 10mph. Rather hazardous conditions at height with snow and gales or severe gales, with a significant chill. Flooding in places from rain over last few days.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Clear spells and a few showers overnight, with snow down to 400m. Then some bright or sunny spells and heavy showers, falling as snow above 700m, with risk of hail and thunder and becoming frequent by the afternoon Fewer showers in the evening with some clear spells, though snow level will fall to 400m.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

60% with broken cloud down to 500m at times into the morning, but 30% chance in afternoon with more frequent showers bringing more in the way of cloud down to 400m at times.

Maximum wind speed expected

West to southwest 40-55 gust 70mph, but risk 65 gust 80 mph over exposed peaks and ridge with showers. Veering northwest 35-40 gust 55mph in evening

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 rising to Zero C by morning, falling to minus 4 C later
  • Valley Plus 2 rising to plus 7 C
  • Freezing level Rising to 800m by morning, falling to 500m later

Visibility

Very good out of cloud, but a few kilometres or less with showers and very poor at height at times with snow.

Mountain weather information

Wednesday 19 February

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A mainly dry, but cloudy start and southwest winds will strengthen to gale or severe gale force in morning, bringing outbreaks of rain. Some heavy rain and summit snow for a time.

Thursday 20 February

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Heavy rain clearing in the morning, then bright spells and scattered showers, these turning wintry above 400m, as freezing level falls to 500m, though mainly dry by the evening. Southwest gales turning northwest late morning, then gradually easing

Friday 21 February

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly dry and bright start but rather cloudy and cloud will thicken in the morning to bring patchy rain. Strong westerly winds increasing gale force over tops. Freezing level 800m at first but then rising.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

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.

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