Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains mountain weather forecast.

Cadair Idris, Pumlumon and the central Welsh hills. Height-aware guidance for wind, cloud, rain and temperature.

Mountain Weather brief

Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains

Monday 12 October 2026 · Cadair Idris, Pumlumon and the central Welsh hills

Confidence: Medium Why?

Uncertainty over high-ground wind strength.

What matters most

A poor day on the tops in Mid Wales and the Cambrian Mountains, with many summits in cloud for most of the day.

High-ground wind · 700 m15-25 mph southwesterly Gusts · 700 m25-35 mph Cloud base400-700 m Feels like · 700 m6 to 10°C
Regional median

Sunshine and sky

Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.

Modelled sunshine0 h0% of daylight
Early0 h sunshine
Midday0 h sunshine
Later0 h sunshine

These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.

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

Morning · 08:00–12:00PoorSummit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Cloud may restrict summit views early on. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
46
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00PoorSummit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Cloud may restrict summit views around midday and later. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
38

Conservative regional grades across representative summits, so one sheltered hill does not overstate the wider area.

01

High-ground wind (700 m)

At around 700 m, expect a south-westerly wind of 15–25 mph, gusting 25–35 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

02

Walking impact

Gusts of 25–35 mph will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

03

Ground conditions

The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.

04

Rain and showers

Drizzle for much of the day. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours. The timing may shift by a few hours.

05

Cloud-free summits

Clear-summit estimate: about 10% early, about 10% around midday and about 10% later.

06

Cloud and visibility

Expect many summits to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 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.

07

Temperature and wind chill

At around 700 m it will be 10 to 14°C, feeling like 6 to 10°C in the wind.

08

Freezing level

The freezing level is above the summits.

09

Daylight

Sunrise 07:34, Sunset 18:27, about 10.9 hours daylight.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area: gusts of about 55 mph and around 16 mm of rain. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Regional night beginning Monday 12 October 2026

Full regional overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area. Gusts reach about 55 mph around 900 m and nearer 40 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. About 16 mm of rain is forecast overnight. 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. Overnight lows of about 9°C at 900 m. The moon won't be up after dark, so there will be no moonlight.

Overnight rain16.4 mmOpen ground · 600 m26 mph · gusts 48 mphMorning pack-upDampness possible
300 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 40 mph
Coldest
11.1°C
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
26 mph / 48 mph
Coldest
10.7°C
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
32 mph / 57 mph
Coldest
8.9°C
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely. Gusts near 30 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. 18Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Regional rock conditions · sampled mountain terrain

Regional climbing & scrambling outlook

A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.

Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (18/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet. Polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Gusts may reach about 30 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes volcanic rock, granite, gneiss or gabbro and sandstone or gritstone. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyExposed gust31 mphRain0.8 mm
Mapped rock across sampled summits3 broad familiesSummit samples, not a survey of every crag
volcanic rock 50% 4 representative summitsOften grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.granite, gneiss or gabbro 25% 2 representative summitsGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.sandstone or gritstone 25% 2 representative summitsUsually rough and grippy when dry. Damp sandstone and gritstone can feel greasy, and saturated sandstone may be weakened, so let the rock dry fully.

Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.

Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling 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 Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains on Monday 12 October 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.

Updated 11 October 2026 at 16:11 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains.

More context for your hill day

Check the approach as well as the tops

Compare midge conditions by day and height, or look for a possible cloud inversion. For Snowdon and Tryfan, camera-derived cloud-base observations add a view of conditions already seen on the slopes.