Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Saturday'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.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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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.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread sub-zero temperatures and wind, gales in northern England and Scotland; wind chill approaching -20C or lower on high summits. Near-constant snow showers in northern Scotland with snowdrifts building; snow showers into central/west Scotland and west Wales too. Mostly sunny southern Scotland and England.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Bitterly cold gales; largely dry and sunny
How windy? (On the summits)
North to northwesterly 35 to 45mph in the morning, the strongest sustained speeds over Borders and Cheviots, reaching 50mph here at times. An easing trend in the west but speeds unlikely reaching below 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant to severe wind chill over the hills. Arduous walking with frequent buffeting in exposure, though conditions will ease slightly in the west with time.
How Wet?
Most places dry
A few showers coming in from the north may clip western Galloway hills, whilst showers over the North Sea may graze the eastern Cheviots. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Some patches will come and go over high tops of western Galloway and the Lothians/Cheviots, other hills clear.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-4 or -5C, some slopes of Galloway/Ayrshire a degree warmer. Wind chill feeling like -20 to -23C in exposure on high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from valleys upward. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 300m, locally higher westernmost slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest eastern hills, 40mph at times over the Cheviot.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued significant wind chill over the hills. Strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain, particularly in east.
How Wet?
Most places dry
A few snow showers coming in from the north may clip western Galloway hills, whilst showers over the North Sea may graze inland onto easternmost hills. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare patches on the higher tops of Galloway and upper slopes facing Ayrshire. Otherwise clear of cloud.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-4 or -5C. Wind chill feeling like -17C in exposure on high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying at or below freezing from the valleys upwards.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northerly 25-35mph, strongest wind near coasts. Shifting northwesterly afternoon and easing slightly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued significant wind chill over the hills. Strenuous walking on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Most places dry
A few snow showers may clip the hills of Ayrshire and the Cheviots, but often dry here, no precipitation expected further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Cloud caps will graze the high eastern Borders and Cheviot hills. Rare patches on the higher tops of Galloway and upper Ayrshire slopes. Otherwise clear of cloud.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-5C at dawn, lifting very slightly with time. Wind chill feeling like -18C in exposure on high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying at or below freezing from the valleys upwards.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen into early next week; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and increasingly into valleys in England and Wales. Heavy showers streaming into northern and coastal Scotland, some containing hail, most terrain covered in snow with substantial snowdrifts in the Northwest Highlands and Cairngorms. Largely dry and sunny in southern Scotland and England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops at times. More variable next week: some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, though most high terrain stays sub-zero, and as fronts come in from the west, upland snowfalls are possible more widely.