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.
Saturday'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 hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread sub-zero temperatures and wind, gales in northern England and Scotland; wind chill approaching -20C or lower on high summits. Near-constant snow showers in northern Scotland with snowdrifts building; snow showers into central/west Scotland and west Wales too. Mostly sunny southern Scotland and England.
Headline for Brecon Beacons
Snow showers west, sun east; blustery, cold wind
How windy? (On the summits)
North to northwesterly 30 to 35mph, squally gusts locally in showers. Sustained speeds may reach up to 40mph for periods in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill over the hills. Walking often strenuous with frequent buffeting over exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers toward west
A band of frequent snow and hail showers over Pembrokeshire and the Cambrians. Scattered showers will pass further east, but east of Brecon likely remains substantially dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare patches on some high tops, mainly west Wales. Central and eastern hills likely stay clear.
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)
-3 or -4C, coolest on eastern hills. Inland valleys start similarly cold. Wind chill feeling like -17C, as cold as -20C on high tops during strongest wind.
Freezing Level
300 to 500m, highest near coast, but terrain part-frozen into valleys inland. Will drop to valley level overnight well-inland.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 20-25mph, squally gusts locally in showers. Some higher speeds possible over high tops late in the day.
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 west, later east
A band of locally frequent snow and hail showers over Pembrokeshire, increasingly into the western Cambrians. Dry east in the morning, though snow showers will push into east Wales with time afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks on central and west tops
Few patches on high tops in the west early, these increasingly common and drifting to high terrain near Brecon. The Black Mountains likely stay clear all day.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%, lowering to 40% central and west
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
Terrain widely frozen down to valleys well inland; up to 300m towards the Cambrians.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northerly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued considerable wind chill over the hills. Wind affects ease of walking where exposed on tops.
How Wet?
Dry for many
Irish Sea showers over Pembrokeshire may occasional drift east towards the Cambrians and westernmost Brecon Beacons, but most mountains stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Little, if any, after morning
Few patches on high tops in the west early, these tending to lift and breaks for substantially cloud-free mountains across south Wales.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny, some patchy cloud around. 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
Terrain widely frozen down to valleys well inland; 200-300m nearest coasts in Pembrokeshire and Cambrians.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen into early next week; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and increasingly into valleys in England and Wales. Heavy showers streaming into northern and coastal Scotland, some containing hail, most terrain covered in snow with substantial snowdrifts in the Northwest Highlands and Cairngorms. Largely dry and sunny in southern Scotland and England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops at times. More variable next week: some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, though most high terrain stays sub-zero, and as fronts come in from the west, upland snowfalls are possible more widely.