Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan today and tomorrow?

Today on Tal y Fan is rated Good and tomorrow Good, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 02:25, 18 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan today?

Good Today Monday 19 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 24 mph, gusting 30 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 45% chance of rain, about 2.7 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 46% and humidity 88% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 9°C at the summit, down to 4°C, feeling as cold as 1°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11: 10h 22m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan tomorrow?

Good Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 23 mph, gusting 29 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 59% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 41% and humidity 81% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 10°C at the summit, down to 1°C, feeling as cold as -3°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09: 10h 18m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan this weekend?

Poor Saturday 24 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 57 mph, gusting 72 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
• Rain: 76% chance of rain, about 8.7 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 78% and humidity 80% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 6°C at the summit, down to 1°C, feeling as cold as -3°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:00: 10h 2m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Marginal Sunday 25 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 35 mph, gusting 49 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
• Rain: 78% chance of rain, about 6.7 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 100% and humidity 86% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 11°C at the summit, down to 2°C, feeling as cold as -1°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:00, sunset 16:58: 9h 58m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Weekend forecasts firm up during the week; check again the day before.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for Tal y Fan

Bwlch y Ddeufaen

From Bwlch y Ddeufaen road end. A path follows a wall up the ridge to the summit. Graded Easy: a clear path with no hands-on ground. The weather at the top is the same as on any other route. About 1h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule (2.1 km one way, 232 m of ascent).

South ascent from Bwlch y Ddeufaen

From Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction. A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 1h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (1.6 km one way, 220 m of ascent).

Rowen via Cae Coch

From Rowen public lane. A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rowen public lane. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 2h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule (3.8 km one way, 460 m of ascent).

Sychnant Pass and northern ridge

From Sychnant Pass mapped public path. A hard mountain walk to the summit from Sychnant Pass mapped public path. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule (4.7 km one way, 390 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Tal y Fan routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Tal y Fan

Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan today?

Today, Monday 19 October: slight rain, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 45% chance of rain. Rated Good. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Tal y Fan tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Tuesday 20 October: overcast, up to 10°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 23 mph gusting 29 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Good.

How does Peakify decide whether Tal y Fan is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Tal y Fan?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.