High hopes for mountain safety

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Rescue teams say they hope new and more detailed weather forecasts for two of Wales' busiest mountain ranges will help walkers stay safe.

The improved predictions for the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia place more emphasis on such factors as wind chill and sunrise and sunset times.

Llanberis Mountain Rescue said they would give a real sense of conditions.

The Met Office website forecasts are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Sports Council for Wales.

Wind chill indicators will also give people a real sense of what it will feel like Ian Henderson, Llanberis Mountain Rescue

Mountain rescue teams in Snowdonia said they had dealt with many incidents where walkers had been caught out by the weather, or been poorly dressed for the conditions.

"It will give people a clearer view of the weather, and enhancements such as sunset time will hopefully stop people getting caught out when it gets dark," said Ian Henderson, secretary of Llanberis Mountain Rescue.

"Wind chill indicators will also give people a real sense of what it will feel like.

"Rather than it being freezing on the summit, and people thinking 'well, I'll wrap up warm' it will actually say it's freezing, but with a wind chill of -10 degrees," he added.

MET OFFICE FORECAST IMPROVEMENTS Improved 'visual impact' for hazardsWind and temperature information for extra levels, at 300m and 500mMore emphasis on wind chillFreezing-level heightsSunrise and sunset timesDetailed two-day forecasts and a further three days in summary<i>Source: Met Office

Peter Howells, team leader of the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, said it was easy for many people to reach the area, but they were sometimes caught out by the weather.

"You can get from central London to the Beacons in three hours easily out of the rush hour.

"Lots of folk are encouraged here, quite properly, as tourists but they sometimes dress inappropriately for the weather.

"Any enhanced forecast, and the publicity surrounding it, will improve safety," he added.

"This enhanced forecasts will enable hill walkers and mountain climbers to plan ahead which means they can make the best of the weather and reduce the risk to their safety from adverse weather conditions," said Dave Robinson, head of Government Services.