Is it safe to climb Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) today and tomorrow?

Today on Snowdon is rated Marginal and tomorrow Poor, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 19:10, 18 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Snowdon today?

Marginal Today Sunday 18 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 27 mph, gusting 33 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: 0% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 24% and humidity 82% 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 4°C at the summit, down to -1°C, feeling as cold as -6°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14: 10h 26m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Snowdon tomorrow?

Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 41 mph, gusting 51 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: 90% chance of rain, about 1.1 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 65% and humidity 90% 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 5°C at the summit, down to 2°C, feeling as cold as -4°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12: 10h 22m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

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 Snowdon

Llanberis Path

From Llanberis. A long, steady path beside the railway to the summit. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 4h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.9 km one way, 979 m of ascent).

Pyg Track

From Pen y Pass car park. A rocky path from Pen y Pass round the side of Crib Goch to Bwlch Glas. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 3h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.3 km one way, 740 m of ascent).

Miners' Track

From Pen y Pass car park. A wide track past Llyn Teyrn, Llydaw and Glaslyn, then a steep, loose climb to join the Pyg Track below Bwlch Glas. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 4h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.8 km one way, 770 m of ascent).

Rhyd Ddu Path

From Rhyd Ddu station car park. A quieter path from the west with views over the Nantlle Ridge. The final section runs along the narrow Bwlch Main ridge. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.9 km one way, 900 m of ascent).

Snowdon Ranger Path

From Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger). One of the oldest paths up, zig-zagging from Llyn Cwellyn and then climbing beside the cliffs of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 4h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.4 km one way, 940 m of ascent).

Watkin Path

From Pont Bethania car park, Nant Gwynant. The biggest climb of the main paths, from near sea level past waterfalls and old quarries. The last stretch up the summit cone is steep, loose scree. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 4h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.5 km one way, 1,015 m of ascent).

South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn)

From Rhyd Ddu station car park. Leaves the Rhyd Ddu Path for the quieter south ridge over Allt Maenderyn, then climbs the narrow, exposed crest of Bwlch Main to the summit. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 4h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.5 km one way, 900 m of ascent).

Crib Goch

From Pen y Pass car park. A grade 1 scramble along a knife-edge arête, then over Crib y Ddysgl to the summit. Very exposed. Not a place to be in strong wind, rain or ice. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 3h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.1 km one way, 880 m of ascent).

Y Lliwedd traverse

From Pen y Pass car park. From Pen y Pass over the cliffs of Y Lliwedd and Bwlch y Saethau to the summit: a grade 1 scramble with big drops on the north side. More climbing than the 723 m net figure, with re-ascents along the ridge. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 4h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (7.0 km one way, 723 m of ascent).

Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge

From Pen y Pass car park. A faint, exposed approach with serious route finding, then the grade 1 North Ridge onto Crib Goch's knife-edge crest. For experienced scramblers in dry, calm weather only. Extra re-ascents beyond the 723 m net figure. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.5 km one way, 723 m of ascent).

Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant

From Blaen y Nant, Llanberis Pass. A remote approach up Cwm Glas to the grade 1 North Ridge and the Crib Goch crest. Very exposed, with no easy way off once on the ridge. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 3h 40m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.3 km one way, 903 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Snowdon 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 Snowdon

Is it safe to climb Snowdon today?

Today, Sunday 18 October: partly cloudy, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Snowdon tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Monday 19 October: moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

How does Peakify decide whether Snowdon 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 Snowdon?

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.