Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Sunday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Sunday 25th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery for most, gales in Scotland which will be severe on high tops early. Continued snow and local whiteout conditions on high terrain in east Scotland, snowdrifts build here. Often raining over the Pennines and south Wales, more intermittent in north Wales and Lakeland (sleet or snow on high summits).
Headline for Southern Uplands
Gales, tending to ease; rain at times for most hills
How windy? (On the summits)
East to southeasterly 40-50mph from dawn, some stronger speeds just at and before dawn over Galloway hills. Gradually easing with time to 30-40mph, strongest speeds always west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, frequent buffeting over higher terrain and in places lower down. Walking more challenging at the start of the day in the west. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain for most
Most hills will see periods of rain through the day, most frequent with a risk of heavier falls on southern slopes, particularly early in Galloway. Rain mostly east later, with sleet or snow on high terrain.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Covering most hills all day, lowest base in south and eastern areas, to mid-slopes, or lower near the Solway coast. Highest breaks toward the central belt, to 700-800m Ayrshire.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Haze, fog, and rain making visibility poor fairly widely.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C on most hills, locally +1C western slopes. Turning cooler from the east afternoon, around -1C. Feeling like -8 to -12C in the wind.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m most areas, highest levels in the west. Lowering with time, approaching 600m by nightfall and further dropping.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 30-35mph, gusts reaching 40mph or higher over tops, strengthening around/after dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous with notable buffeting in exposure frequently challenging stability. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Periods of sleet/snow, mostly east
Showery sleet and snow affecting the Cheviots and eastern Borders through the day, patches further east as well but amounting to little. Drier towards Ayrshire/Central Belt.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain, middle slopes east
High terrain under fog most or all day, lowest bases in the eastern Borders and Cheviots, 300-500m, lowest in precipitation. Bases lowering too in Galloway at times. May lift towards 700m on northern slopes.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright moments towards Ayrshire where visibility good, but otherwise cloudy. Visibility moderate or poor elsewhere due to snow and haze.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C. Feeling as cold as -13C, later -18C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, highest level in the west.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 50-60mph. Gusty, most powerful gusts reaching up to 70mph in direct exposure.
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 fairly widely
Patchy snow in the morning, mostly high tops, setting in more widely with time, possibly for much of afternoon. Heaviest falls on southern and eastern slopes.
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?
No sunshine expected. Visibility becoming very poor, appalling on high terrain in blowing snow.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -1C. Feeling like -20C or colder in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m
Planning Outlook
An unsettled week ahead: a dominance of low pressure will bring periods of wet weather and gales (at times severe), to all areas. Winds will be predominantly east-southeasterly, particularly in Scotland, maintaining the cold air with freezing levels consistently to middle or lower slopes - wind chills will be severe. A near-term risk of flooding in the eastern highlands. Wind direction will be more variable in England and Wales, at times shifting south-southwesterly and drawing in milder air, brining freezing levels to upper slopes or even above the high summits. Low cloud often covering many hills with only local sunny breaks here and there.