Conditions
Although the snow had continued to thaw, there was still some snow lying on the mountain. Any old snow was quite patchy, and generally only a few patches were seen, apart from some more extensive areas higher up. There was also a thin layer of new snow above about 850m.
The snow covered the path completely or almost completely in a few places on the Llanberis path higher up, and an area of the PyG/miners' paths was still under snow below Bwlch Glas.
All the snow that was seen today was thawing, and although it was generally soft on the surface, most of the snow that was seen was firm enough, with some places being icy higher on the mountain. Although the snow had thawed, it was in a slippery enough condition in some places.
A few cornices were seen during the observations, although they were relatively small in size, it would still be a very unwise idea to walk on, or near these, even if the structure is not overhanging.
Due to poor light and visibility, and the new snow it was difficult to see if there was any further movement in the small cracks along the upper edge of the old drifts which lie on the edge of the ridge between Yr Wyddfa and Carnedd Ugain today (see photos). There was a suggestion from what could be seen that there had been some movement in some of the cracks since the previous observations.
A cloudy and misty day, with a strong breeze, and persistent light or moderate precipitation during the day. It was falling as a mixture of snow, graupel or hail above around 600m, starting to settle on the mountain above around 850m. As it continued to rain while walking down the mountain, and later in the day, there is probably more snow lying on the mountain than was seen during the observations by the time this report is published.
Essential equipment
Seasonally appropriate walking gear, including lighting (such as a headtorch or two).
Carrying snow goggles (such as ski goggles) will protect the eyes from cold winds and wind blown snow, making it easier to see in order to travel more safely on the mountain.
Carrying an ice axe and some sort of spikes for the feet will give you options to stay safe on the mountain. An ice axe and crampons are more likely to enable safe movement on the snow of PyG and miner's paths (assuming there are other possible dangers), even if only a relatively small part of the path might require them.
Additional Information
On the Tuesday of the report the forecast suggests that the temperature on the summit will remain a degree or two below freezing for most of the period until the next report on Friday, turning increasingly very windy through Thursday and into into Friday (with wind gusts of up to 90mph forecast). Temperatures at the summit are forecast to be as low as -3˚C, feeling as low as -13˚C at times.
Some further thawing is possible lower on the mountain, but with lower temperatures and periods of snow it is likely to remain wintry higher on the mountain, with the possibility of more snow. It is also possible for ice to develop, especially higher up on the mountain at times.
Any new snow will be transported around the mountain under the influence of wind at times, with periods of poor visibility.