Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable 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, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable 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, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 6th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
After a hard frost, mostly dry and bright, but feeling increasingly bitterly cold as southeasterly winds strengthen and cloud thicken through the day ahead of a front, which will bring and increasing risk of upland snowfall, in across western mountains toward evening, and then spreading to all parts overnight.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Bitter chill in strengthening southeast winds. Dry, but snow soon after dusk.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly, strengthening through day from 20-30mph after dawn to 30-45mph before dusk. Strongest wind Galloway.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult, in places on lower slopes, and feeling bitterly cold as wind chill becomes significant from west.
How Wet?
Dry much of day, but snow after dusk.
Very likely dry through daylight, but then fronts edging in from southwest after dusk will bring increasing threat of persistent snow. Time of onset uncertain, most likely not until early evening - perhaps midnight Borders.
Cloud on the hills?
Hills cloud free; but may lower onto the hills later in the day.
Most hills cloud free, possibly for much the day. But patchy cloud higher slopes east from Moffat will tend to lower toward 450m from late afternoon and increasingly cap higher tops westward toward Galloway.
Chance of cloud free summits?
90% lowering to 20% late in the day.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine giving way from south as cloud thickens. Visibility very good although increasingly hazy and appalling in overnight snow.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C. Will feel as cold as minus 16C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Almost all terrain frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 7th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Very turbulent conditions developing. Southeasterly winds; lifting through day to 45 to 65mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly difficult conditions, as turbulent and very powerful winds accelerate over the hills.
How Wet?
Rain, or for a time snow or refrozen rain.
Frequent spells of rain, for a time early in the day falling as snow to mid or upper slopes, or even refrozen rain. Will revert to rain at all levels as day progresses.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud widely shrouding the hills from lower slopes upwards.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Poor or very poor visibilities.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1C, tending to lift to plus 2C. Feeling closer to -15C in exposure to the wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m at dawn, tending to lift above tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 8th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southeasterly 20 to 30mph; strongest in the morning, but easing out to 15mph in the afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Some buffeting and considerable wind chill in the morning, but becoming small afternoon.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle on and off
As an area of low pressure tracks across through the day, areas of rain and drizzle will circulate around giving precipitation on and off, some perhaps heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Be prepared for extensive hill fog through the day from mid slopes upwards. Some patches to lower slopes at times too.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast. Rather murky through the day.
How Cold? (at 750m)
Around 3C, but feeling more like sub -5C in direct exposure to the strongest winds, before they ease.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, with terrain thawing out.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions will prevail over the next week to 10 days, with periods of upland gales or severe gales with precipitation frequent, mostly rain, although intermittently snow Scottish Highlands, more rarely elsewhere. Driest conditions (relative to the average) will likely be in the northwest Highlands, given the often backed flow, as the low pressure areas track in.