Includes all higher summits in the southern half of Wales: the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park, southern Cambrian Mountains and highest Preseli hills.
Brecon Beacons
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
Another cold day for May with considerable chill factor in exposure to brisk northerly winds. Showers focused on north-facing areas in the morning, but forming increasingly widely, falling as snow on Scottish Munros, at times higher tops elsewhere; heavy bursts with hail, isolated thunder.
Chilly and windy. Increasingly showery with hail, isolated lightning
Northwesterly 25mph, but up to 30mph for western coastal hills, some stronger squally gusts around showers. Tending to increase in west later to 35mph.
Considerable wind chill for mid-May. At times walking becoming uncomfortable in exposure on high tops.
Showers developing widely, some hail, risk thunder
Showers focused on western areas in morning. After mostly dry start south and east, showers develop and become fairly widespread into middle of day. Some heavy with hail. Risk isolated thunder & lightning.
Varied, but often above tops away from showers.
Given flow direction, generally well elevated bases with tops often clear. However, in and around showers, shafts of cloud may lower onto tops.
70%
Sunshine best well inland early in the day. Otherwise, fleeting glimpses between the showers. Visibility very good, but poor in showers.
2C rising to 4 or 5C afternoon.. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Above the summits
Brecon Beacons
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
Northerly 15 to 25mph, strongest around dawn when some western tops up at 30mph.
May impede walking at times, mainly in the morning when the wind chill factor will be most pronounced.
Brief local showers
One or two showers mostly near Cardigan Bay early morning, here fading. Well scattered brief showers forming inland middle of day and afternoon, but often dry.
Little if any
Some patches capping higher western tops in the morning, but bases rising to clear above most or all tops by middle of day onward.
80%
Patchy sun, best early morning in south, then improving near west coast afternoon. Visibility excellent.
3 or 4C. Feeling like -7C directly in early wind.
Above the summits
Brecon Beacons
Saturday 16th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
Westerly 10 to 15mph. Becoming southwesterly, rising a little during day to 15-20mph.
Mostly small.
Rain develops
One or two brief showers may develop, otherwise largely dry until later afternoon. Patchy rain moving in from west, risk becoming more persistent later western areas, then extending further eastward.
Mostly little until later
Rare patchy cloud briefly on western tops in morning, otherwise clear. As rain develops, cloud tending to fill in with time over higher western slopes.
80%
Sun weakens as high cloud thickens during day, more overcast afternoon. Visibility excellent, reducing western areas as rain develops.
2C rising to 5C afternoon.
Close to freezing on highest summits and inland valleys at dawn. Rising further above freezing to tops.
Becoming gradually less cold into the weekend as northerly winds ease and then switch toward west-southwesterly. Fewer showers by Friday with sunny spells. A dry start to Saturday, frost at dawn where skies are clear. Rain and lowering cloud moves onto west coast areas during Saturday, persistent rain later western Scotland. By Sunday and Monday, areas of showery rain will pass eastwards during the daytimes, leaving western areas generally drier with cloud breaks afternoon-evenings. South-southwesterlies then prevail for a few days next week, with rain at times Tuesday and Wednesday on western hills, particularly Scotland. A drier and warmer theme later in the week as higher pressure builds.