Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Today'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Jan 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales widespread across all mountain areas, powerful turbulent gusts downslope toward the west in places. Prolonged upland snow southeastern Highlands into southern Cairngorms, increasingly rain to mid-heights. Further rain also spreads north across Wales then the Pennines. Low cloud widely.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Windy, gales on hills. Rain and low cloud east, drier west.
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly 40 to 45mph, stronger gusts in places near and west of higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous conditions, challenging in exposure, gusts knocking you off balance (not just on tops). Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain mostly east, fades west
Rain most widely from dawn into early morning, for a time sleet or wet snow on higher tops, turning more to rain, remaining frequent eastern hills, patchier westward, though often damp near Solway.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Often covering higher slopes, bases around 400-500m, at times lower in Cheviots, also nearest the Solway, but some breaks higher up toward and west/northwest of Beattock summit.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% east, to 40% northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some brighter moments toward Ayrshire. Visibility poor in precipitation, a general haze, locally better west.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 to +1C, mildest temperatures west of the M74, locally 2C Ayrshire slopes. Wind chill feels as cold as -15C.
Freezing Level
At or above the summits west of the M74, lower east, around 700-800m, though perhaps lower Lothians/Cheviots.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 24th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East to southeasterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty downslope west of major tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, frequent buffeting gusts not just on highest terrain; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain, snow tops mostly east
Fairly persistent rain, sleet or hill snow above 600m Cheviots and Border hills, patchier amounts westwards, though showery rain may run onto Galloway coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive over tops
Covering much higher terrain all day above 500 to 700m, base lowest in Cheviots. Some breaks in the cloud near and west from Beattock summit.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull. Poor visibility in rain, very poor if in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 or 1C. Directly in the wind feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, lowest in east, whilst some western hills may be above freezing to higher tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 25th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
East to southeasterly, speed may vary, possibly tending to lessen during day, in range 25 to 40mph, gusty downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, frequent buffeting over higher terrain and in places lower down. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain mostly east
Rain most frequent over eastern hills, some sleet or snow above 600-700m. Patchy small amounts west of M74.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Covering most hills all day, lowest base in south and eastern areas, to mid-slopes, or lower near the Solway coast. Highest breaks toward the central belt.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, hazy. Poor visibility over many hills.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 or 1C. Feeling like -8 to -12C in the wind.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m eastern hills, may drop further, but above 800m western areas, above freezing to some higher slopes.
Planning Outlook
East to southeasterlies continue through the weekend and onward into next week, frequently strong to gale-force over the mountains, giving severe chill factor. Below freezing across high terrain in Scotland, and into early next week a lowering freezing level over hills in England and Wales. Frequent or persistent snowfall over east and southern Scottish mountains, rain on lower slopes causing flooding in the short term. Patchier and small amounts reaching coastal regions in west-northwest Scotland. Areas of rain and increasingly hill snow push across England and Wales as low pressure remains dominant. Low cloud often covering many hills.