Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains mountain weather forecast.

Wed 18 Nov on the hillsA mixed day in Mid Wales and the Cambrian Mountains, with cloud coming and going on the summits and drizzle for much of the day. See wind, cloud base and timings

Mountain Weather brief

Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains

Wednesday 18 November 2026 · Cadair Idris, Pumlumon and the central Welsh hills

Confidence: Medium Why?

Uncertainty over rain amounts and timing. Uncertainty over high-ground wind strength. Uncertainty over sky cloud cover and sunshine.

What matters most

A mixed day in Mid Wales and the Cambrian Mountains, with cloud coming and going on the summits and drizzle for much of the day.

High-ground wind · 700 m10-20 mph southwesterly Gusts · 700 m15-25 mph Cloud base300-1600 m Feels like · 700 m-2 to 2°C
Regional median

Sunshine and sky

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

Modelled sunshineLess than 1 hour5% of daylight
Early0 h sunshine
MiddayLess than 1 hour 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 · 08:00–12:00MixedSummit winds around 10-20 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. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
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Afternoon · 12:00–17:00MixedSummit winds around 5-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later. Rain is forecast on some hills during this period. Rain is forecast in parts of the area during the afternoon, but its extent and local amounts are uncertain.
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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 10–20 mph, gusting 15–25 mph.

02

Walking impact

Noticeable on exposed ground, but unlikely to impede most walking.

03

Ground conditions

The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.

04

Rain and showers

Drizzle for much of the day. Expect 2–5 mm in total. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall. Rain is forecast in parts of the area during the afternoon, but its extent and local amounts are uncertain.

05

Cloud-free summits

Clear-summit estimate: about 10% early, about 20% around midday and about 25% later.

06

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of clear tops around midday. The cloud base could be as low as 200–500 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 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

08

Freezing level

The freezing level is above the summits.

09

Daylight

Sunrise 07:41, Sunset 16:17, about 8.6 hours daylight.

10

Differences across the area

More sunshine is likely around the southern hills than the northern hills. This is a broad-area estimate, not sunshine on every summit.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m on some hills (gusts of about 50 mph and about 5 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Regional night beginning Wednesday 18 November 2026

Full regional overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m on some hills. 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. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. About 5 mm of rain is forecast overnight. 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 -1°C.

Overnight rain4.6 mmOpen ground · 600 m17 mph · gusts 41 mphMorning pack-upDampness possible

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
65%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
00:57 next morning GMT

Cloud and terrain vary across the area. 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.

Representative location: 52.787, -3.688. Times vary across the area.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
14 mph / 34 mph
Coldest
3.0°C
In cloud
33% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
17 mph / 41 mph
Coldest
1.4°C
In cloud
67% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
20 mph / 51 mph
Coldest
-1.0°C
In cloud
73% 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. 12Poor · 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 (12/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet. Polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. 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 gust24 mphRain2.4 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.

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This is about Mid Wales and Cambrian Mountains on Wednesday 18 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

Updated 14 November 2026 at 16:37 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.