Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Friday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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 9th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy snowfall and low cloud over the eastern Highlands & N/E Pennines, little if any reaching western Scotland where hills will be clearer, some low-level fog. Extensive fresh snow cover for Wales and Peak District, residual flurries fade, but wind remains strong; showers with hail near west coast of Wales.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Snow and low cloud over eastern hills, chilly breeze.
How windy? (On the summits)
North-northeasterly 10 to 20mph, at times 25mph higher Cheviots.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but noticeably cold if exposed to stronger speeds on some slopes, mainly in east.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east
Snow flurries over eastern hills, risk becoming fairly persistent over a few hours, tending to advance gradually west into central areas during daytime, scattered flurries may reach western hills later. Mostly sleet on lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches mostly east
Patchy cloud moving over higher slopes, filling in more extensively during snow in areas east of the M74, base around 500-600m in east. Some cloud banks extend further west over tops with time.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60% west, to 30% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud, cloudier overall east. Visibility very good west, but poor in snow in east; beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C. Feeling like -8C if exposed to stronger breeze on tops.
Freezing Level
300 to 600m, highest nearer to coasts, but some terrain frozen into the valleys.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Variable direction 10mph or less, may become mostly southerly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Local showers west
Many places dry, particularly inland and east. Chance of light showers Galloway, snow flurries hills, mostly rain below 500m,
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patches or fragments of cloud around some slopes and tops, may come and go. Some mist possible into valleys.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen into valleys inland; some slopes to 400-500m just above freezing, 600m near coasts in SW.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly, strengthening rapidly up to dawn, in range 40 to 60mph much of daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow turning to rain
Snow developing perhaps quickly from the southwest, setting in heavy over many hills, sleet or rain on lower terrain, possibly freezing rain for a time. Increasingly turning to rain to higher elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the hills widely all day, to lower slopes near the Solway, highest bases toward the Pentlands, above tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling for a time if in snow on hills.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1C rising toward +2 to 4C, small variation of temperature with height. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
300 to 500m from dawn, partly frozen into inland valleys; rising variably during day above freezing to highest tops.
Planning Outlook
Terrain stays widely frozen away from coastal slopes this weekend, fresh extensive snow for Wales and Peak District, whilst substantial snow remains across Scottish mountains. By Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely. A rise of freezing level from the southwest - thawing develops, rising just above freezing toward all higher slopes; in England and Wales much snow will thaw - here only occasionally near freezing on highest tops in the week ahead. In Scotland next week, higher mountains often near or below freezing at 800-1000m upward. A mix of rain and high-level snowfall, often windy through mid-month.