Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa weather forecast.

1,085 m summit in Eryri (Snowdonia). 8 forecast days covering wind, cloud, rain and temperature, updated 14 November 2026 at 06:36 UTC.

Snow & avalanche outlook for walkers

Snow on the hills from Monday

Eryri (Snowdonia) outlook, the nearest to Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa. All winter outlooks

TodayLittle or no lying snow expected on the hills.

Snow on the hills

Expect little or no lying snow. Old patches may survive in sheltered gullies.

Fresh snow and avalanches

With so little snow, no real avalanche concern is expected beyond isolated patches.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

Snow to come

Tomorrow: a few centimetres of snow expected on the tops.

TomorrowLittle or no lying snow expected on the hills.

Snow on the hills

Expect little or no lying snow. Old patches may survive in sheltered gullies.

Fresh snow and avalanches

With so little snow, no real avalanche concern is expected beyond isolated patches.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

Mon 16 NovWind-drifted snow expected on steep north-west through north to north-east-facing slopes.

Snow on the hills

Expect snow lying above about 300 m.

Fresh snow and avalanches

5 to 10 cm of new snow is forecast on Monday. On its own that is unlikely to cause many avalanches, but where wind piles it into drifts it may not bond well for a day or so. Rain or a thaw on the snow will make wet snow slides more likely, especially on steep slopes in the afternoon. A hard frost afterwards would lock the surface up again.

Where the wind will put the snow

Expect gale-force southerly winds, around 58 mph on the tops, to blow the snow about. It will collect as wind slab on steep north-west through north to north-east-facing ground, especially below ridges, crags and corrie rims, and in gullies and hollows. Slopes facing into the wind will be scoured, with thinner snow and more rock and ice showing. Older drifts from earlier winds are also likely on west-facing slopes. Why this matters: wind slab is the most common avalanche problem in British hills. Drifted snow settles into a stiff layer resting on softer snow. One person's weight can crack it, and the whole layer then slides at once. Warning signs are cracks running out from your feet, a hollow, drum-like sound, or snow breaking into blocks. The safest choice is to stay off those slopes, especially where they are steep enough that you would want your hands or kick steps.

Cornices

Cornices are likely to grow above north-facing slopes because there will be plenty of new snow to move; a 58 mph wind is strong enough to carry loose snow; and that wind will blow across the ridges from the south. A cornice is an overhanging lip of snow built out over the drop by the wind. It can break well back from the edge, so keep well away from it, especially in poor visibility, and do not linger below one, particularly as it warms.

Underfoot

Expect new, loose snow on top, with hard going in deeper drifts.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

Snow to come

On Tuesday: 5 to 10 cm of snow expected on the tops, drifting onto north-west through north to north-east-facing slopes.

Tue 17 NovWind-drifted snow expected on steep north-west through north to north-east-facing slopes.

Snow on the hills

Expect snow lying on the tops.

Fresh snow and avalanches

A few centimetres of new snow is forecast on Tuesday. On its own that is unlikely to cause many avalanches, but where wind piles it into drifts it may not bond well for a day or so. Rain or a thaw on the snow will make wet snow slides more likely, especially on steep slopes in the afternoon. A hard frost afterwards would lock the surface up again.

Where the wind will put the snow

Expect strong southerly winds, around 38 mph on the tops, to blow the snow about. It will collect as wind slab on steep north-west through north to north-east-facing ground, especially below ridges, crags and corrie rims, and in gullies and hollows. Slopes facing into the wind will be scoured, with thinner snow and more rock and ice showing. Why this matters: wind slab is the most common avalanche problem in British hills. Drifted snow settles into a stiff layer resting on softer snow. One person's weight can crack it, and the whole layer then slides at once. Warning signs are cracks running out from your feet, a hollow, drum-like sound, or snow breaking into blocks. The safest choice is to stay off those slopes, especially where they are steep enough that you would want your hands or kick steps.

Spindrift

Spindrift is likely all day: loose snow lifted by the wind and blown towards the north. Heading southwards, into it, will be hard work, and visibility can drop sharply in gusts. Goggles make a big difference, keeping the snow out of your eyes so you can still see where you are going. Expect it to stream over crag tops and down north-west through north to north-east-facing gullies.

Cornices

Cornices are likely to grow above north and north-east-facing slopes because there will be plenty of new snow to move; a 38 mph wind is strong enough to carry loose snow; and that wind will blow across the ridges from the south. A cornice is an overhanging lip of snow built out over the drop by the wind. It can break well back from the edge, so keep well away from it, especially in poor visibility, and do not linger below one, particularly as it warms.

Underfoot

Expect wet, heavy snow. It balls up under crampons and can slide on steep ground. Conditions will change through the day: thawing from 05:00 onward.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

Wed 18 NovWind-drifted snow expected on steep north-west and north-facing slopes.

Snow on the hills

Expect snow lying on the tops.

Fresh snow and avalanches

10 to 20 cm of new snow is forecast over the three days to Wednesday. On its own that is unlikely to cause many avalanches, but where wind piles it into drifts it may not bond well for a day or so. Rain or a thaw on the snow will make wet snow slides more likely, especially on steep slopes in the afternoon. A hard frost afterwards would lock the surface up again.

Cornices

Cornices are likely to grow above north and north-east-facing slopes because there will be plenty of new snow to move. A cornice is an overhanging lip of snow built out over the drop by the wind. It can break well back from the edge, so keep well away from it, especially in poor visibility, and do not linger below one, particularly as it warms.

Underfoot

Expect wet, heavy snow. It balls up under crampons and can slide on steep ground. Conditions will change through the day: thawing right through, day and night.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

Thu 19 NovA thin, patchy covering of snow expected on the tops.

Snow on the hills

Expect a thin, patchy covering on the tops, with small drifts in sheltered spots. Snow over grass and rock is slippery, and frozen patches can be icy.

Fresh snow and avalanches

With only a thin covering, avalanches are unlikely. Small drifts on steep sheltered ground are worth avoiding.

Cornices

Small cornices may start to form above north-east-facing edges where the wind piles up loose snow. Even a small one can give way, so keep back from the edge.

Frozen turf

Turf is not expected to be frozen, so frozen-turf scrambles and winter routes will not be in condition.

A forecast explained from a computer model of the weather and snow. It is not an official avalanche forecast. Conditions on the ground can differ, so look and judge for yourself.

Snow and avalanche outlook: Mountain Conditions by Spatial Terrain Ltd, used with permission. Issued 14 November 2026 at 06:30 UTC.

Explore the mountain in 3D

See the wind across Yr Wyddfa.

Watch the flow over ridges and through valleys. Choose a forecast day and time, follow the paths, and tap the terrain for modelled mean wind.

Explore Yr Wyddfa in Wind Lab Terrain: Natural Resources Wales LiDAR, OGL v3.0. Paths © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Explore the mountain in 3D

See the snow on Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa.

Modelled snow lying on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), today and for five days ahead, with the paths, gullies and named features around it.

Open Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in 3D Terrain and snow model: Mountain Conditions by Spatial Terrain Ltd, used with permission. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Choose your hill day.

Compare 8 days, then read the outlook for your visit. Scores start at 100 and can fall below zero in severe weather. How we score a hill day.

Select a day to replace the detailed forecast below. 8 forecast days are available here.

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather46Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0015-35 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate10% Cloud base through day500-1,100 m Freezing level1,000-1,300 m DaylightSunrise 07:37 · Sunset 16:22 · 8.8 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, with the summit in cloud for most of the day and a blustery wind.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of around 10–20 mph first thing, rising to 25–35 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m mid-morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.

Webcam view and cloud base

Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa webcam photograph
Camera photograph. Open full-size photo
Webcam cloud observationAbove visible tops · No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. Cloud base is higher than about 1,000 m above sea level in this view; the summit is not confirmed clear.

Earlier camera image, not current conditions. Camera feed timestamp: 13 November 2026, 16:54 GMT. The image and cloud-base reading may not be from the same moment. Still images, not live video.

With thanks to Snowdon Webcam Images by DataCymru Ltd. CC BY 4.0. Image analysis and overlays by Mountain Weather.

Visit the provider’s current webcam ↗

Earlier observation, not current conditions.

Earlier observations that day
  • No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. The actual summit is not confirmed clear.
  • Cloud base around 950 m above sea level (provisional).
  • No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. The actual summit is not confirmed clear.
  • Cloud base around 950 m above sea level (provisional).
  • No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. The actual summit is not confirmed clear.
  • No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. The actual summit is not confirmed clear.
  • No cloud detected on the mapped slopes. The actual summit is not confirmed clear.

Camera-based estimates for the slopes in view, not the whole mountain. Heights are approximate and have not been independently checked. These observations do not replace the forecast.

Explore cloud-base observations, the camera view and daily downloads

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates Less than 1 hour of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
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Midday
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Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Mixed Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground.
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Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Winds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 20-30 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 25-35 mph later. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
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Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 14 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Dry to pitch, then a little rain by morning, so you'll likely pack up in the wet. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. The air is damp at every height we checked (300-900 m), so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 900 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.4 mm Open ground · 600 m22 mph · gusts 37 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
27%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
19:57 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 14 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
18 mph / 31 mph
Typical / low
4.5°C / 4.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 37 mph
Typical / low
3.4°C / 2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
33% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 44 mph
Typical / low
1.5°C / 1.2°C · much of the night
In cloud
80% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 35–45 mph. Poor24 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust35-45 mphRain0.0 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphmuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-14. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 14 Nov, 19:55 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
14 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

14 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 28% illuminated.

Moonset around 14 Nov, 19:55 GMT.

Full darkness: 14 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

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This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Saturday 14 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather20Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-25 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0025-35 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationAround 10-20 mm Cloud-free summit estimate10% Cloud base through day300-600 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:39 · Sunset 16:21 · 8.7 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, with burns likely to be in spate and rain for much of the day.

Things to watch

Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through the day and overnight, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 35–45 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m in the early afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.

Rain and ground

Rain for much of the day, becoming heavier through the afternoon. Expect 10–20 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Some of the detail could still change, so have a last look at the forecast in the morning before you set off.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
0 h
Midday
0 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
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Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor More rain is expected. Summit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
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Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and about 6 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Sunday 15 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect about 6 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -2°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain6.1 mm Open ground · 600 m22 mph · gusts 43 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
36%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
21:11 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 15 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
19 mph / 36 mph
Typical / low
2.7°C / 1.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 43 mph
Typical / low
1.4°C / 0.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
47% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 51 mph
Typical / low
-0.5°C / -2.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
47% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 25–35 mph. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust25-35 mphRain15.5 mm
Main factorsgusts of 25–35 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-15. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 16 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT.

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.

Moon-free dark sky: 15 Nov, 21:10 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
15 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

15 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

15 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

15 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

15 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 00:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.

16 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 36% illuminated.

Moonset around 15 Nov, 21:10 GMT.

Full darkness: 15 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

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Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Sunday 15 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather76Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph easterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0020-30 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate80% Freezing level500-800 m DaylightSunrise 07:41 · Sunset 16:19 · 8.7 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A good day on Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, though expect snow on the tops.

Snow and navigation

Snow is forecast on the tops in the afternoon. The air freezing level is roughly 600 to 800 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. The forecast model suggests less than 1 cm of fresh snowfall at around 1000 m between 08:00 and 17:00 (local time). The amount settling is uncertain and will vary with melting and drifting.

Wind

On the summit expect an easterly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 20–30 mph at the windiest. The wind turns south-easterly around midday. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 30–40 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. It will look largely cloudy overhead, but that cloud should mostly stay above the tops. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

Snow arrives mid-afternoon. Some forecast models keep it drier in the afternoon. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -6 to -2°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 700–1000 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still two days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 4.2 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
2 h
Midday
1.2 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.
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Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Summit winds around 5-15 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 15-25 mph later. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
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Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and heavy rain, around 25 mm). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 17Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Monday 16 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from southeasterly to westerly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect heavy rain, around 25 mm, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. At every height we checked (300-900 m) you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost above about 600 m, down to about -3°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain26.8 mm Open ground · 600 m23 mph · gusts 42 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower

Moon overnight

First-quarter moon

Illuminated disc
46%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
22:26 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 16 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m25 · poor
Wind / gust
19 mph / 36 mph
Typical / low
1.2°C / 0.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
53% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m17 · very poor
Wind / gust
23 mph / 42 mph
Typical / low
-0.3°C / -1.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
93% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 48 mph
Typical / low
-2.6°C / -3.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
93% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 20–30 mph will be noticeable on exposed ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust20-30 mphRain2.7 mm
Main factorswet rock likelySnow is likely to be lying on high ground, with further snowfall possible during the day
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-16. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 17 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 16 Nov, 22:25 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
16 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

16 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Around half moon, about 46% illuminated.

Moonset around 16 Nov, 22:25 GMT.

Full darkness: 16 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Monday 16 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather4Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0015-30 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate10% Cloud base through day100-900 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:43 · Sunset 16:18 · 8.6 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, with sleet or snow on the tops and burns likely to be in spate.

Snow and navigation

Sleet or snow is possible on the tops during the morning and afternoon, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1100 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Things to watch

Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate from the morning into the afternoon, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 15–30 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 30–40 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 45–55 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 100–400 m early in the morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Mist or fog is possible in the valleys during the morning, clearing by about 10am. Any sunshine is more likely on lower ground than on the summit.

Rain and ground

Sleet and snow for much of the day. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 900–1200 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. It's still three days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 3.5 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
0 h
Midday
2.5 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
1
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 15-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
8

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 40 mph and a frost, down to -2°C). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Tuesday 17 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 25 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from northwesterly to northeasterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. At every height we checked (300-900 m) you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -2°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain2.3 mm Open ground · 600 m16 mph · gusts 32 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
55%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
23:42 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 17 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m51 · mixed
Wind / gust
13 mph / 26 mph
Typical / low
3.4°C / 2.8°C · much of the night
In cloud
60% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
16 mph / 32 mph
Typical / low
1.6°C / 0.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
60% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
19 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low
-0.8°C / -1.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
60% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust30-40 mphRain2.1 mm
Main factorsgusts of 30–40 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-17. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 18 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 17 Nov, 23:45 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
17 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

18 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

18 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

18 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 56% illuminated.

Moonset around 17 Nov, 23:45 GMT.

Full darkness: 17 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Tuesday 17 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather78Good
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-15 mph northeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate50% Freezing level700-1,000 m DaylightSunrise 07:44 · Sunset 16:17 · 8.5 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A good day on Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa: dry, with light winds.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly north-easterly, with gusts of 10–20 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit later in the day.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain in the morning. The ground is very wet after recent rain, so expect boggy paths.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -6 to -2°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 800–1100 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. It's still four days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 5 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
0 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.
77
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.
79

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph and a frost, down to -2°C). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 18 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. It should stay dry. A frost above about 600 m, down to about -2°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m12 mph · gusts 34 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
65%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
00:58 next morning GMT

Clear spells may allow a view of the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 18 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 19 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
10 mph / 29 mph
Typical / low
2.7°C / 0.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
12 mph / 34 mph
Typical / low
1.5°C / -1.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
15 mph / 43 mph
Typical / low
-1.6°C / -1.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor6 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDry overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust10-20 mphRainPossible · 68%
Main factorsdamp or incompletely dried rock possibleSnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-18. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 18 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 19 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
18 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

18 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 19 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly clear. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 66% illuminated.

Moonset around 19 Nov, 01:00 GMT.

Full darkness: 18 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Wednesday 18 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Low
Overall hill weather42Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph easterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0045-55 mph Feels like-14 to -10°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate60% Cloud base through day1,200-1,500 m Freezing level300-600 m DaylightSunrise 07:46 · Sunset 16:15 · 8.5 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, with strong, gusty winds and a bitter wind chill.

Wind

On the summit expect an easterly wind of 30–40 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 45–55 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 70–80 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 300–600 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. Good spells of sunshine are likely. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views whenever the tops come out of the cloud.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain in the afternoon. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -6 to -2°C, feeling like -14 to -10°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 400–700 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud heights are particularly hard to pin down today. It's still five days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 8 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
2 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 40-50 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges.
47
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.
38

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and a frost, down to 0°C). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Thursday 19 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. It should stay dry. A frost up around 900 m, down to about 0°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m22 mph · gusts 40 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
75%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
02:16 next morning GMT

Clear spells may allow a view of the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 19 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 20 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
18 mph / 33 mph
Typical / low
2.9°C / 2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low
1.6°C / 1.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 50 mph
Typical / low
-0.1°C / -0.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

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Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 45–55 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDry overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust45-55 mphRainPossible · 28%
Main factorsgusts of 45–55 mphdamp or incompletely dried rock possibleSnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-19. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 20 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 20 Nov, 02:20 GMT to 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
19 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

19 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

19 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

19 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

19 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 20 Nov, 00:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

20 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

20 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.

20 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

20 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

20 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

20 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 75% illuminated.

Moonset around 20 Nov, 02:20 GMT.

Full darkness: 19 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 20 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Thursday 19 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather95Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate65% Cloud base through day1,300-1,600 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:48 · Sunset 16:14 · 8.4 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A fine day on Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa: dry, with light winds.

Wind

On the summit expect a southerly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. The wind turns south-westerly around midday. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. Good spells of sunshine are likely. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views whenever the tops come out of the cloud.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud heights are particularly hard to pin down today. It's still six days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 8 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
2 h
Midday
4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground.
93
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.
97

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: a frost, down to 0°C. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Friday 20 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. It should stay dry. A frost up around 900 m, down to about 0°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m8 mph · gusts 16 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
83%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
03:38 next morning GMT

Views of the Moon may come and go through cloud breaks. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 20 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 21 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
7 mph / 14 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
8 mph / 16 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
10 mph / 18 mph
Typical / low
0.9°C / -0.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor32 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Snow is likely on the rock and ledges, so it becomes a winter route. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust15-25 mphRain0.0 mm
Main concernSnow is likely to be lying on high ground. Scrambling may require winter mountaineering skills and equipment
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-20. All times are UK local time.

Using the last available sky forecast, updated at 10:43 GMT on 14 Nov. Cloud conditions may have changed. Live aurora guidance is temporarily unavailable.

Stargazing

Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 21 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 21 Nov, 03:40 GMT to 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
20 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

20 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

20 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

20 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

20 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

20 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 21 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Limited model coverage.

21 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 84% illuminated.

Moonset around 21 Nov, 03:40 GMT.

Full darkness: 20 Nov, 18:15 GMT to 21 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 804 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Friday 20 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather56Mixed
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0015-30 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-8 to -4°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate25% Cloud base through day1,100-1,400 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:50 · Sunset 16:13 · 8.4 hours daylight Route wind betaCompare wind exposure on Snowdon’s routes →Explore how terrain changes wind and exposure on the same mountain. Prepared scenarios, not this day’s live forecast.

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa, with a blustery wind and cloud coming and going on the summit.

Wind

On the summit expect a southerly wind of around 10–20 mph first thing, rising to 25–35 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 55–65 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit around midday. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 700–1000 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. It looks hazy, so views may be limited even when the tops are clear.

Rain and ground

Dry through the daylight hours, but rain arrives after dark. Most forecast models bring some rain, though, so don't count on it staying dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -8 to -4°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still seven days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates Less than 1 hour of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
Less than 1 hour
Midday
Less than 1 hour
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Mixed Summit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later.
62
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Winds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
51

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 40 mph and around 9 mm of rain). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 21 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from southerly to westerly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect a wet night, around 9 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain9.0 mm Open ground · 600 m18 mph · gusts 36 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
91%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
05:04 next morning GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 21 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 22 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m49 · mixed
Wind / gust
15 mph / 30 mph
Typical / low
5.6°C / 3.8°C · several hours
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
18 mph / 36 mph
Typical / low
5.6°C / 3.8°C · several hours
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 42 mph
Typical / low
3.8°C / 1.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
47% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.

Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. On the usual routes up you may also cross rhyolite, which grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross mudstone or slate, which has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust35-45 mphRain1.4 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likelySub-zero temperatures and moisture may leave icy patches on exposed rock
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation
Origin
Igneous
Broad rock-response group
Volcanic rock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Volcanic rock in 100% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile
Low confidence
View the summit BGS record

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Snowdon Horseshoe

volcanic rock

Snowdon Llanberis

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Snowdon Miners Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Pyg Track

volcanic rock

Snowdon Ranger Path

volcanic rock, sandstone or gritstone

Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock

Snowdon Watkin Path

volcanic rock, slate or mudstone

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

12 rock types appear in the mapped samples

Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.

Summit-area sample Pyroclastic rock Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 449–1,040 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Miners Track and 4 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Lower Rhyolitic Tuff Formation 188–831 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Ranger Path, Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu and 1 more

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Rhyolite Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 460–955 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Horseshoe, Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track and 1 more

Rhyolite is a hard, fine-grained volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and gets slippery on smoother faces when wet. It is hard, but often cracked into sharp, blocky pieces, so some holds are loose.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Bedded Pyroclastic Formation 870–964 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Miners Track, Peak Snowdon Pyg Track

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Microgabbro Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician 402–607 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.

BGS record
Route sample Mudstone and siltstone Cwm Eigiau Formation 426–580 m samples Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis, Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Basalt Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician Around 544 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Watkin Path

Basalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.

BGS record
Route sample Felsic tuff Pitts Head Tuff Formation Around 294 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Rhyd Ddu

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Llewelyn Volcanic Group Around 483 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Sandstone Cwm Eigiau Formation Around 600 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Ranger Path

Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.

BGS record
Route sample Siltstone Nant Ffrancon Subgroup Around 462 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.

BGS record
Route sample Tuff and sandstone Bedded Pyroclastic Formation Around 687 m Seen on Peak Snowdon Llanberis

Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.

BGS record

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaNight-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. This does not mean clear skies or no aurora.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa on Saturday 21 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

Forecast run: 2026-11-14

A forecast is part of the decision.

Mountain weather can differ sharply from conditions in the valley. Check official warnings, carry appropriate navigation and clothing, and be ready to change the plan. Read how Mountain Weather forecasts are produced and where their limits lie.