Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Friday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 13th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold widely gale force upland winds around a deep low north of Scotland, will bring a succession of snow and hail showers to the mountains. Cloud will extensively cover the mountains (the highest cloud base well inland afternoon). Much higher terrain will be below freezing point.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Upland gales; frequent squally hail and snow showers. Fog.
How windy? (On the summits)
West to southwesterly severe gales post dawn; soon typically 40-45mph, occasionally 50mph on highest tops. Particularly gusty near precipitation.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking over exposed higher terrain, considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers, chance thunder
Showers, most frequent Dumfries and Galloway; hail and above 400, later 550, snow. Risk of the precipitation persistent for an hour or so. Isolated lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering higher fells most or perhaps all day
Cloud base changing quickly: near precipitation shafts of cloud to 450m or occasionally lower. Otherwise, cloud base typically 750m or in Borders often above the summits.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% Galloway to 70% Borders
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun west, or more frequent bright sun toward Borders. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C or in morning just below. Will feel as cold as minus 14C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
500m rising to 750m.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwest to westerly, ranging from 30 to perhaps for a few hours 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking at times where exposed across higher areas. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers.
Risk showers: particularly Cheviot hills morning, when may merging one into another for an hour or two morning, but should ease. Expect hail and above 450m, snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive on higher tops
Varied cloud base: sometimes below 450m near precipitation but by midday most cloud above 700m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, although patchwork of sun toward the Lothians. Hazy, and very poor visibility in snow
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
750m
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 15th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Mar 26 at
6:25PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwest veering west typically between 35 and 45mph, perhaps 55mph morning. Risk strengthening further toward dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued difficult walking and wind chill significant on exposed higher areas. Expect balance, and in places general mobility to be difficult.
How Wet?
Rain morning; clearing to showers
Morning: Extensive rain, least wet near Lothians. Middle of day: Clearing from west, but the rain finishing as snow above 600m Afternoon: Hail and snow showers (rain lower slopes). Chance isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Hills covered morning; then cloud base rising markedly
Morning: Blanket of fog across the hills, though mostly above 450m near Lothians. Middle of day: Beginning to improve. Into afternoon: Varying cloud base, between occasionally 500m near precipitation and otherwise above 750m.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Less than 10% morning; later 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Dull and misty morning. Then improving to patchy sun (mainly Borders) and mostly very good visibility (abruptly poor in precipitation).
How Cold? (at 750m)
4C dropping to 1C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits (most or all morning) dropping to between 550 and 800m.
Planning Outlook
Further bouts of upland gales over the next few days. Precipitation on most mountains daily, focussed on western hills. Freeze thaw cycles will occur: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods fairly brief and snow accumulating on many slopes. Further south, lying snow more intermittent as periods of thaw will be lengthier. Temperature levels will rise from about next Tuesday and as pressure then builds, most or all mountain areas will then become largely fine.