Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Tuesday'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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread gales, severe early in Scotland. Showers in west Scotland, pushing east, turning snowy and setting in for a time. Near constant rain for Lakeland and Yorks Dales, becoming heavy with a rising flood risk. Rain spreads widely across England and Wales later, wind strengthens in Wales.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Gales and showers; wind eases somewhat, rain more frequent
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 55mph in the morning, gradually easing, perhaps to 25-30mph by evening, though likely remaining stronger on hill near the Solent/Cheviots.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the hills in the morning, any mobility challenging in exposure with significant wind chill. Effects will tend to ease, though
How Wet?
Morning showers, increasingly rainy, most constant south/west
Morning showers into Dumfries and Galloway, some showers drifting further east too. Rain begins setting in on southern Galloway slopes to Moffat hills, reaching the Cheviot too, with a risk of more widespread rain for several afternoon hours, snow falling on high terrain.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west and more widely afternoon
A layer of cloud cover the high tops all day, bases often down towards 700m, regularly lower in the west during showers. Afternoon brings further lowering of the cloud extensively foggy above 600m, lower in the south and west.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and dull with poor visibility due to fog and rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
+3C at first, locally warmer around the Cheviot. Lowering from the northwest, 0C afternoon into evening, lowering further overnight. Feeling like -12 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits in morning, dropping from northwest to 700m afternoon, then 500-600m into evening/nighttime.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 30 to 45mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often impeded, frequent buffeting, in places more arduous over higher exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Locally frequent hail and snow
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, most frequent in Galloway, locally more constant for periods. Showers forming more widely with time. Chance of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high western tops, varying
Cloud base frequently changing, likely to come and go over tops mainly in Galloway above 700-800m, lower patches in showers. Elsewhere only briefly on tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, most common Borders early. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling at times in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C, slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
500m from dawn, lifting to 700m, slightly higher away from showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Mar 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 20-30mph, up to 35mph over the Cheviot early. Gradually shifting W'ly and easing, 10-15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure early and feeling chilly, some stability challenges in the east. Effects easing to fairly small.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely until evening
Patchy rain arrives from the west as evening approaches, some refrozen rain mixed in upon first arrival. The east stays dry until later overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any during daylight
The hills free of cloud well into the day. A deck of cloud arrives to the high western tops later in the day, lowering and spreading east into night.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90%, lowering to 40% west late in the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine early, high cloud gradually fills in from the west, trending overcast. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -3C, gradually rising, to 0C evening, then several degrees above 0C overnight. Feeling like -10 to -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, some lower frosts likely too. A slight rise, then sharply lifting above the summits for several overnight hours.
Planning Outlook
Cold, wintry conditions across all mountains into midweek - significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. Hail and snow showers extend southwards into Wednesday, by then below freezing on all tops above 600-700m. Fewer showers by Thursday for many, though further snow then rain moves into western Scotland. Temperature and freezing level then varying as changeable westerlies prevail for Scotland through the weekend into early next week with periods of upland gales widely, accompanied by spells of rain, hill snow and hail showers; some windows of drier weather more often affect England & Wales.