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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing 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, crampons may be necessary.
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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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing 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, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 7th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 6th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force NW'ly winds England, Wales and S Scotland, slowly lessen from west. Areas of snow falling over N & E Scotland tends to ease and become patchy. A few showers or flurries elsewhere, but largely dry SW Highlands. Much terrain remains frozen, substantial snow depths much of Highlands.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Windy, gales for longest east. Snow eastern hills, dry elsewhere.
How windy? (On the summits)
Northwesterly 40 to 50mph from dawn, strongest for longest in east, easing gradually during day from west to 20-25mph, less by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill and challenging conditions widely at first, into middle of day eastern high tops, tending to improve from the west, but still blustery much of daylight.
How Wet?
Snow mostly eastern hills, dry west
Snow showers mostly eastern hills, locally frequent on hills nearest North Sea, sleet or rain lower slopes. Into night, some snow flurries move onto western hills, rain lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high tops or above
Cloud banks over higher slopes in east most of the day, more broken west toward the M74, often clear further westward, occasional patches graze tops in Galloway.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% east, to 80% west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy east, mix of cloud and sun west. Visibility mostly very good central-western areas, but poor where snow occurs east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2 or -3C, or slightly higher after dark in west. Feeling like -10C, to -15C if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen inland. Up to 400-500m west coastal areas, slight rise into night west.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 8th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 6th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Direction and speed likely to vary: 10 to 15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Rare light snow
Often dry, but possible snow flurries mostly western hills, sleet or rain low-mid slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied cloud and fog
Cloud banks around mid to higher slopes, but risk also areas of fog some valleys and coastal lower slopes. Some clearer hills toward the Pentlands and Borders.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Varied cloud and sun, likely better east. Visibility very good in places, but risk misty or hazy lower areas.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-2C, up to 0C nearer coast.
Freezing Level
Frost in many valleys, all day out of sunlight. Otherwise 400 to 600m, or slightly higher toward Solway.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 9th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 6th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the summits)
North-northeasterly 10 to 20mph, possibly over 30mph Cheviots.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be fairly small, but risk blustery with considerable wind chill eastern hills.
How Wet?
Local flurries east
Possible snow flurries, greater risk over eastern hills, mostly sleet on lower slopes. Likely generally dry western areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches mostly east
Patchy cloud moving over higher slopes, local fragments lower down, most common eastern hills, often clearer west of M74.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud. Visibility very good over many hills, but reduced if snow occurs in east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
-1 or -2C.
Freezing Level
300 to 600m, highest nearer to coasts, but some terrain frozen into the valleys.
Planning Outlook
Terrain remaining widely frozen into the weekend, extensive deep snow cover for Highlands, less nearer the central belt. An additional substantial snowfall for Wales & Peak District on Thursday night, accompanied by gales. A fairly benign end to the week for Scotland, showers near some west coasts. By late Saturday into Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely, before at least a temporary rise of freezing level - some thawing develops on lower terrain, most pronounced in Wales toward higher slopes. Chilly patterns next week with some further hill snow, many mountains often sub-zero, but overall less cold.