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.
Wednesday'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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Wednesday 17th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gales across the hills. Rain preceded by early snow on higher terrain in the Highlands, lifting briefly above freezing to high tops. Showery bursts follow into western Scotland, heavy and frequent with hail later. England & Wales sees rain much of the day, spreading eastward, heavy at times.
Headline for Brecon Beacons
Upland gales. Rain becomes persistently heavy, low cloud.
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 40 to 50mph, risk 60mph high tops, local powerful gusts north of higher summits. Lessening a little only late evening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the hills, walking difficult in places higher up, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes.
How Wet?
Rain soon develops, setting in heavy
Rain moving in from west soon from dawn, setting in persistently over western hills, increasingly Brecon Beacons, some heavy falls; patchier further east into mid-Wales. Rain breaking up only well into night. Very wet underfoot, streams rising again to be in spate, renewed flooding likely later.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Lowering in morning to blanket most hills, from mid-to-lower slopes in west and south of Brecon. Higher bases toward Black Mountains, but rarely above the tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly murky.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3C rising during day to 6C. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 30 to 45mph, but direction and speed may vary, possibly lower speeds for periods during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions, often strenuous walking and marked wind chill in exposure.
How Wet?
Prolonged heavy rain, flooding
A persistent swathe of rain sweeps into southern Wales soon from dawn, sustained widespread heavy falls much of daylight. Breaking up into showery rain and hail evening into night. Considerable flooding likely.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Lowering soon to shroud the hills widely all day, from low-to-mid slopes upward.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky.
How Cold? (at 750m)
4 or 5C, then lowering to 1C into night. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -7C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, then dropping into the night to just above highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Brecon Beacons
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 30 to 45mph, tending to lessen a little during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions over higher terrain, buffeting in exposure mainly morning. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Brief showers
A few showers coming inland from the west in the morning, possible hail, briefly snow on highest summits. Fading into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to many tops
Patchy cloud grazing higher tops, most often western hills in morning, lifting above most tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun most frequent east Wales. Visibility often very good.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1 to 3C. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Just above highest tops, tending to rise slightly higher.
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. More heavy rain for England and Wales on Thursday, further flooding expected; rain spreads north into Scotland, falling as snow on Munros. Showery by Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives from the west into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.