Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Wednesday's Forecast
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain spreads across Scottish Highlands from the northwest, turning to snow as temperature sharply drops. Strong, variable wind here with gale-force gusts. Early hill cloud England and Wales lifts, best breaks east for some sun glimpses. Patchy rain into Snowdonia, Lakeland, and N Pennines late in the day.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Blustery, strengthening; rain spreads from west afternoon
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, trending towards the higher end of the range with strong gusts, likely 40mph fairly widely afternoon. A risk of a sudden northerly shift late in the day with stronger gusts in the far west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly strenuous walking, buffeting gusts around tops and locally downslope to east. Marked wind chill. A risk of sudden variability in direction late in the day.
How Wet?
Rain develops from the west afternoon, far east mostly dry
Well-scattered drizzly rain, but many hours likely dry. Rain moving in from northwest from around midday, spreading widely to the M74 and westward through afternoon, heavy falls likely. More patchy east, Cheviots likely dry until later in the day, then rain reaches east areas around evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Some early breaks east, becoming extensive from west afternoon
Covering higher terrain, particularly Dumfries and Galloway much of the day above 500-700m, possibly a period of more broken cloud Borders and east midday/early afternoon. As rain arrives from west, cloud base lower to near 400m or lower.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%; 60% for a time in the east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy west, local brighter moments eastward, glimpses of sun Borders and Cheviots before afternoon. Visibility starts mostly good, particularly in the east, but deteriorating west as cloud fills in and rain arrives.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5 or 6C. A sudden, sharp drop as evening approaches, to below freezing after nightfall; temperatures may lower slightly earlier in Galloway. Feeling like -5C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits during daylight. Lowering towards 600m after sunset.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 2nd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Variable 15mph or less, though perhaps 20mph northerlies at dawn. Later, turning southerly, 10-25mph, strongest west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
A few spots of drizzle and snow flurries may affect Cheviots around dawn; the flurries falling to 500-700m, otherwise dry. Late in the day/evening, rain arrives onto western Galloway hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, variably lower
Banks of cloud, mostly above 700m early, but a few ragged patches lower too, most cloud in the east to start the day. Bases lift, largely 800m and up, some summit breaks probable, but also with a risk of bases dropping locally lower, mostly south and west.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, probably more extensive for periods. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -3C at dawn, lifting to 0 or +1C.
Freezing Level
400-500m, though frosts likely in valleys too; lifting to 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 3rd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 35-50mph, powerful gusts, including downslope to the east, risk of stronger wind at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions likely on the hills, balance will be difficult and feeling chilly. Some variability is probable.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Showery rain affecting the central and western hills for much of the day, spreading east at times, merging into broader areas of rain for periods. May briefly fall as snow on high tops early. A drier window possible, but uncertain.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive west
Most higher terrain stays in cloud all day, some variability as rain comes and goes, bases often down to middle slopes in the west due to frequent rain. A window of higher bases is possible, best chance of higher breaks in the far east.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun my break out but the day will be mostly cloudy. Generally poor visibility, but variable, good during breaks in rain/cloud.
How Cold? (at 750m)
+1 or 2C early, lifting, up to 7C for a time, cooling again later. Feeling like -8 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, likely all day, but may lower to the summits of Merrick as evening approaches.
Planning Outlook
A brief lull in unsettled weather on Thursday with mostly dry, sunny conditions and lighter wind. Atlantic weather patterns and west-southwesterly winds follow behind on Friday and into the Easter weekend, but day-to-day detail is uncertain. Temperature and wind will be variable, periods of gales and possibly often cold over the mountains with snow and hail showers at times to lower elevations at least in Scotland, sometimes more widely. Precipitation generally most frequent west and northwest, though bands of heavy rain will sweep east at times. Some brief windows of drier and brighter conditions, as well as milder days in England and Wales, occasionally milder Scotland too, but soon followed by more Atlantic low pressure.


