Southern Uplands

The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).

Today's Forecast

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Mon 5th Jan 26 at 4:30PM
View our detailed version Last Updated Mon 5th Jan 26 at 4:30PM

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Tuesday 6th January 2026
Last updated Mon 5th Jan 26 at 4:30PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Intermittent snowfall to lower slopes pushes widely eastwards, increasingly more prolonged and heavier snow from the west across the Highlands, though near the west coast becoming sleet or rain to mid-heights. Hill snow and rain lower down setting in for England and Wales from the west afternoon. Wind varied, but tending to strengthen.

Headline for Southern Uplands

Snow flurries, then snow-rain mix. Increasingly windy.

How windy? (On the summits)

West-southwesterly 20-25mph, gradually rising with time, reaching 40mph or higher over summits during afternoon. Then northwesterly 40-50mph into night.

Effect of the wind on you?

Walking becoming strenuous with time, more arduous later with buffeting gusts; significant wind chill.

How Wet?

Patchy snow, turning to rain west

Patches of snow will drift east, though many hills will see extended dry periods, particularly east. Late in the day, more frequent hill snow and rain, wetter for a time toward higher slopes in west.

Cloud on the hills?

Covering summits, gradually more extensive

Cloud shrouds the summits most of the day, a few summits may be clear just at and before dawn. Bases lower to the middle slopes during snow showers, gradually becoming more extensive from the west with time.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30% lowering to 10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

A few bright/sunny bursts here and there, becoming overcast afternoon. Variable visibility, very poor during snow but becoming good during dry periods.

How Cold? (at 750m)

-3C lifting to 0C though variable, highest temperatures in the west; colder into night. Feeling like -15C in the wind.

Freezing Level

Terrain frozen from overnight, lifting during day to 600-800m for a few hours, highest in west; sheltered valleys may stay frozen, and refreezing widely into night.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Wednesday 7th January 2026
Last updated Mon 5th Jan 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Northwesterly 35 to 50mph from dawn, strongest for longest in east, likely easing gradually during day from west.

Effect of the wind on you?

Significant wind chill and challenging conditions eastern high tops, tending to improve from the west.

How Wet?

Largely dry, risk local snow showers

Risk of snow showers mostly eastern hills in the morning, likely becoming confined toward the North Sea coast then clearing. Into night, some snow may move onto westernmost hills, rain lower slopes.

Cloud on the hills?

Lifting to high tops or above

Cloud banks over higher slopes in the morning, mostly lifting and breaking above the hills, slowest to clear in east. Patches may come and go high tops in Galloway.

Chance of cloud free summits?

70%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Mix of cloud and sun. Visibility mostly very good.

How Cold? (at 750m)

-2 or -3C, or slightly higher after dark in west. Feeling like -15C if exposed to stronger wind.

Freezing Level

Much terrain frozen inland. Up to 400-500m west coastal areas, slight rise into night west.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Thursday 8th January 2026
Last updated Mon 5th Jan 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Direction and speed likely to vary: mostly west or southwesterly, 10 to 20mph.

Effect of the wind on you?

Mostly small.

How Wet?

Rare light snow

Often dry, but possible snow flurries mostly western hills, sleet or rain low-mid slopes.

Cloud on the hills?

Varied cloud and fog

Cloud banks around mid to higher slopes, but risk also areas of fog some valleys and coastal lower slopes.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Varied cloud and sun, likely better east. Visibility very good in places, but risk misty or hazy lower areas.

How Cold? (at 750m)

-2C, up to 0C nearer coast.

Freezing Level

Frost in many valleys, all day out of sunlight. Otherwise 400 to 600m, or slightly higher toward Solway.

Planning Outlook

Freezing conditions persist this week - some changes by the weekend as Atlantic lows try to circulate further northwards, bringing a period of thawing mainly to England and particularly Wales, whilst Scottish mountains may see brief if any periods of above-freezing conditions even onward into mid-month. Complex weather systems, with potentially a deep low moving across southern Britain by Thursday-early Friday this week which may bring some snowfalls to Wales and the southern Pennines. Often lighter winds in Scotland for a few days, but another low may track further north later in weekend bringing widespread gales, and mostly rain to England and Wales, snow and lowland rain to Scotland.