Eryri / Snowdonia Information for Winter Climbers and Walkers
Winter walking and climbing objectives in the Welsh mountains can be high quality days out but proximity to the sea means conditions can be fleeting and highly changeable. Bringing the right kit and planning a suitable objective for your skills is reliant on knowing the ground conditions and the weather you expect to encounter. This post gives links to where you can find this information for Eryri / Snowdonia from webcams to mountain forecasts, ground conditions reports to live weather updates which are useful for winter climbers and walkers planning to head out into the mountains.
Full winter conditions on Crib Goch
Mountain Weather Reports
Met Office Mountain Forecast - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/mountain/snowdonia#?date=2023-12-04
Mountain Weather Information Service - https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/english-and-welsh/snowdonia-national-park
When looking at the mountain forecast check the amount of precipitation, temperatures and wind speed. Temperature and wind speed will determine the wind chill. Also important to know is where the freezing level is, as this will be where you’ll encounter snow, and what the cloud base is doing.
If there is precipitation falling as snow is combined with almost any amount of wind, you’ll need to make sure you take goggles to be able to see. If the weather is still and sunny then, even in winter, sunglasses would be advisable to prevent damage to your eyes from the UV. High winds not only increase the effect of wind chill but also buffeting which can make a trip more likely especially when wearing crampons.
If the cloud base is lower than your route you’ll need to be proficient in the use of a map and compass, remember paths wouldn’t be obvious in the snow. If you don’t feel confident in this skill, then plan a route below the cloud base.
Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Ground Conditions Report and Live Summit Weather
Throughout the winter someone walks to the summit of Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon to gather information on the path and mountain conditions and reports what they find here. The report offers advice on the equipment, particularly whether crampons, microspikes and an ice axe is required. As well as, an interpretation of the forecast for the next few days. The photos are also useful in understanding the conditions.
In addition, the webpage has live summit temperatures and when sunset is. Understanding how many daylight hours there are in winter is very important in planning your day, particularly with how longer route to plan and you should be starting. Always take a headtorch in winter.
Remember weather forecasts are just forecasts and can be wrong. I use live weather data to see if what is happening on the mountains matches the weather forecast and what can be seen on webcams.
Live Temperature Monitoring
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/idwal
Cwm Idwal (600)
Cwm Cneifion (850m)
Clogwyn Y Garnedd (900m)
This live data is designed to help climbers know whether the turf is frozen. Climbing unfrozen turf damages the crag ecology and by destroying the turf can destroy the route for future climbers.
Webcams
Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon
Ogwen
