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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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 25th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry with sunshine best in west and northern Scotland, high terrain warmer than many lower slopes, local low-level fog. High summits SE Highlands likely just above patchy cloud. Mostly cloudy Pennines, grazing tops, clearer westward across the Lakes. Gusty easterly winds, strongest further south, gale-force in Wales.
Headline for Brecon Beacons
Gale-force gusty wind, severe chill. Mostly sunny.
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 45-55mph, powerful gusts in exposure and downslope to the west, particularly western Cambrians, but also toward west and southwest of high summits in Brecon Beacons.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions in exposure with gusts nearly constantly challenging balance, in places you may be blown over around higher mountains. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Dry all day
Cloud on the hills?
Early patches mostly clearing
In the morning, patches of cloud come and go over the high terrain around the Black Mountains, well broken near Pen-Y-Fan, and more fleeting on other high tops. Cloud increasingly clears from all hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70% early, rising above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine increasingly widespread with excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -1C, westernmost slopes a few degrees warmer. Feeling like -15C or colder in direct wind.
Freezing Level
300-400m from dawn, rising slightly; up to 600m in the west though poorly defined due to milder downslope wind.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Friday 26th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 30 to 45mph, stronger gusts around some tops and high passes; locally also gusty downslope west of high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with considerable wind chill in exposure over high terrain, in places buffeting gusts affecting balance.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Chance of brief snow grains or light rain spots lower down, mainly toward east.
Cloud on the hills?
Risk often capping some tops
Patchy cloud mostly above 700-800m, most common onto higher eastern slopes, but perhaps frequent on tops. More often clear hills toward west Wales.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mix of cloud and sun, best in west, often sunny near to Cardigan Bay and in Pembrokeshire. Visibility good, though some haze likely.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 or -1C, small variation with height. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Near freezing all elevations from dawn, staying mostly sub-zero above 600m, but above freezing some western slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Saturday 27th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 30 to 45mph, very gusty around some tops, high passes and downslope toward the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance over tops and ridges, sudden buffeting gusts in places; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare if any light rain
Largely dry; chance of an odd brief spot of light rain mainly eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches high tops toward east
Patchy cloud banks mostly above 700m and toward east and mid Wales; patchier over much of Brecon Beacons and western Cambrians, often above tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, but some sun best toward west. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1 to 3C, coolest in east, locally warmer western slopes. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Some terrain partly frozen; close to freezing some upper slopes and patchy slight frost in sheltered valleys in morning.
Planning Outlook
Dry weather continues into the weekend as a strong area of high pressure resides near or north of Scotland. Inversion conditions Scottish mountains, high tops generally above freezing and above most patchy cloud, some frost and fog in glens. Gusty east-northeasterly wind increasing for Scotland by Saturday, easing again for Sunday. Strong and gusty winds prevail for England and Wales, often cloudy, a little light rain occasionally Pennines; some sun toward west. Next week stays dry for many, local showers northern Scotland, possibly turning chillier with northerly winds. *** Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year from all the team at MWIS ***