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Southern Uplands Forecast

Southern Uplands

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

Tuesday's Forecast

Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Snow and rain mix
Whiteout
Cold

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM Last Updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM Last Updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Severe conditions - storm-force winds on mountains, damaging gusts to some lower terrain. Extensive hill snow for N England & S Scotland, snow setting in heavier with time for southern Highlands; blizzard conditions widely, rain only lower slopes. Showery bursts follow in Wales with risk of hail and thunder.

Headline for Southern Uplands

Severe gales. Heavy upland snow, rain lower down.

How windy? (On the summits)

East-southeasterly 60 to 75mph. Powerful gusts downslope in places. Slightly lower speeds by dusk.

Effect of the wind on you?

Mobility tortuous on most terrain, likely requires crouching or crawling in strongest gusts. Severe wind chill.

How Wet?

Snow sets in widely heavy, rain lower down

Upland snow soon widespread and persistent early morning, heavy falls for several hours. Snow likely continuing for much of afternoon, though tending to fade from the southwest with time. Rain or sleet below 300-400m, higher afternoon. Showers later near Solway.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive

Summits likely in cloud most or all day, the lowest bases on southern and eastern hills early, then more widely to middle slopes as snow sets in. Slopes towards the Central Belt may see odd higher breaks.

Chance of cloud free summits?

10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Overcast and dull. Visibility very poor, appalling on high terrain in blowing snow; whiteout in places over tops.

How Cold? (at 750m)

-2 or -1C, rising to 0 or +1C later. Feeling like -20C in strongest wind.

Freezing Level

400-500m, then later in day a variable rise toward upper slopes 700-800m.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Southeasterly 25 to 40mph, strongest in west - speed likely to vary during day.

Effect of the wind on you?

Affecting comfortable walking, more challenging Galloway, very gusty in places. Considerable wind chill.

How Wet?

Locally damp

Some fine drizzle where in cloud, but little precipitation all day.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive, breaks forming

Covering many hills in morning, to lower slopes southern areas. Breaks forming with time, best further northwards.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Largely cloudy, may become brighter afternoon with some sun toward north. Misty, becoming better visibility with time.

How Cold? (at 750m)

1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C.

Freezing Level

Generally just above freezing on higher summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated Mon 26th Jan 26 at 4:20PM

How windy? (On the summits)

East to southeasterly 30 to 40mph, gusty in places near and west of higher summits.

Effect of the wind on you?

Strenuous walking, challenging where exposed on higher areas, buffeting in places lower down. Significant wind chill.

How Wet?

Patchy flurries eastern hills

Occasional light snow flurries Borders and Cheviots, sleet or rain below 400-500m. Very little if any toward and west of M74.

Cloud on the hills?

Most persistent east, breaks west

Cloud banks often covering eastern hills above 500-600m. Higher base westward, breaks to tops in Galloway.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Cloudy in east, hazy and poor visibility if in snow. Some sun breaking through in west, where visibility mostly good.

How Cold? (at 750m)

0 or -1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.

Freezing Level

600 to 700m.

Planning Outlook

Strong east or southeasterly winds likely to prevail onward into early February. Scottish mountains are expected stay below freezing in the extended range, fresh heavy snowfalls giving substantial depths and drifts across south and eastern areas, much less snow northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. A generally unsettled pattern with Atlantic lows continuing to frequently circulate over Britain on a southerly track, whilst high pressure resides away to the north.