Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Thursday 25th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry with sunshine best in west and northern Scotland, high terrain warmer than many lower slopes, local low-level fog. High summits SE Highlands likely just above patchy cloud. Mostly cloudy Pennines, grazing tops, clearer westward across the Lakes. Gusty easterly winds, strongest further south, gale-force in Wales.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Gusty wind, cold. Cloudy east, capping tops, sunnier west.
How windy? (On the summits)
East-southeasterly 25mph, gusty in exposure. Stronger on slopes nearest to the Solway, increasingly gusting 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfort of walking affected in exposure with some buffeting including on some downslopes from higher tops, locally more strenuous; considerable chill factor.
How Wet?
Most hills dry
A little fine drizzle possible where in cloud around the Cheviot, otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain east, little west
Banks of cloud come and go over the high tops of the eastern Borders and Cheviots, more persistently capping The Cheviot top above 700m. Only fleeting patches west of the M74, many Ayrshire hills clear.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% east to 80% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy east, increasingly broken towards the west, often sunny Galloway. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or 0C, locally warming a degree where sunny. Feeling like -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
600-700m, some variability; poorly defined towards Ayrshire due to milder downslope winds, lowering here overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 26th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 20 to 25mph, gusty around some higher slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over many exposed tops, in places sudden gusty spots feeling more noticeable and colder.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Chance of brief snow grains locally on eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher eastern hills
Cloud banks coming in from the east may persist across higher slopes in Borders and Cheviots, base around 600m. Cloud more broken toward M74, more often clear further westwards.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% east, to 80% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy all day east, dull but visibility good below cloud. Sunshine best in Galloway, excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C, small variation with height.
Freezing Level
Near freezing all elevations from dawn, terrain staying frozen out of sunlight, but lifting just above freezing some slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 27th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 24th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 25 to 30mph, stronger gusts around some slopes, particularly just west of higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking in exposure, sudden buffeting gusts in places; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little light rain east
Occasional spots of light rain Pentland hills to Cheviots, locally more frequent, but total amounts small. Largely dry central and western areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops and in east
Cloud banks mostly above 700m and in eastern areas, may be frequent over higher Cheviot slopes; patchier westwards.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% Cheviots, to 70% west of M74.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rather cloudy eastern areas, some breaks with sun in the west. Visibility very good, some haze east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
1 or 2C, small variation with height in morning; may rise slightly higher Galloway. Feeling like -8C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Some terrain partly frozen; close to freezing some upper slopes and patchy slight frost in sheltered valleys in morning.
Planning Outlook
Dry weather continues into the weekend as a strong area of high pressure resides near or north of Scotland. Inversion conditions Scottish mountains, high tops generally above freezing and above most patchy cloud, some frost and fog in glens. Gusty east-northeasterly wind increasing for Scotland by Saturday, easing again for Sunday. Strong and gusty winds prevail for England and Wales, often cloudy, a little light rain occasionally Pennines; some sun toward west. Next week stays dry for many, local showers northern Scotland, possibly turning chillier with northerly winds. *** Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year from all the team at MWIS ***