Brecon Beacons
Includes all higher summits in the southern half of Wales: the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park, southern Cambrian Mountains and highest Preseli hills.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Thursday 1st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold north-northwesterly winds, widely gale force over the mountains, difficult conditions with severe chill factor on Scottish high tops. Showery snow and hail frequent in northern Scotland. Rare showers central Scotland and northern England. Early rain and hill snow followed by showers in Wales.
Headline for Brecon Beacons
Windy, showery rain and snow on tops mostly morning.
How windy? (On the summits)
West to northwesterly 25 to 35mph, squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure on higher hills, buffeting gusts. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early rain, snow on tops, then showers
A band of showery rain and hill snow moving southeastwards across the region in the morning, falling as snow above 600-700m. Breaking up into scattered showers by mid-late morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Sometimes covering tops
Patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes most widely in the morning, then mainly west Wales above 600-700m, briefly lower in showers. Good breaks to many tops Brecon Beacons afternoon.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50% rising to 80% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, occasional sun. Visibility very good, occasionally reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 or -1C. Wind chill feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Up to dawn near to freezing to some lower slopes, then rising to 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 25 to 30mph, local squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill over the mountains. Blustery, starting to affect comfortable walking in exposure on tops.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers
Showers feeding inland from Cardigan Bay mainly over west Wales, snow and hail falling to lower slopes, rain only lower coastal areas. Risk a band of snow showers more widely at first.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Cloud likely to come and go on higher tops, mostly above 800m, patches sometimes to 600m in showers. More often clearing southeastern areas.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, best southeast. Visibility varying between very good for periods, to very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C. Wind chill feeling like -12C on tops.
Freezing Level
500 to 600m. Soon widely dropping below freezing from valleys upward into evening.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North to northwesterly 25 to 35mph, squally gusts locally in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued considerable wind chill over the hills. Affecting ease of walking where exposed on tops.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers toward west
A band of locally frequent snow and hail showers over Pembrokeshire. Rare brief showers elsewhere, often dry much of Brecon Beacons and east Wales.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare patches on some high tops, mainly west Wales.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sunshine Brecon Beacons to east Wales, cloudier west. Visibility excellent, locally reduced in showers in west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-3C. Wind chill feeling like -15C in exposure on high tops.
Freezing Level
300 to 500m, highest near coast, but terrain part-frozen into valleys inland.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen onward into the weekend and early next week at least; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, tending to lessen into Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, but some fronts moving in from northwest likely bring snowfall to hills at times more widely.