Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Tuesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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 near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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 near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 21st January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Below freezing on Scottish tops. Noticeably chilly in the breeze. A cluster of showers with hill snow moves across the Highlands early in the day, but clears to be often dry and bright. Showers continue near to western coasts, some moving inland. A slow-moving front over England & north Wales brings grey and damp conditions.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Often dry, patchy rain; low cloud slowly rising. Moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 15-20mph, locally 25mph around higher summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but may start affect comfortable walking where exposed on higher slopes. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain at times
Occasional light rain or brief showers mostly western hills, odd showers passing east into the Cheviots, one or two possible showers toward the Central Belt. Largely dry Borders.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud most persistent southwest
Covering many hills in the morning, lowest bases western areas 300-500m. Tending to thin and lift with time toward some upper slopes. Breaks forming best across north and northeastern hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some sun mostly toward the Lothians. Visibility good away from cloud banks, but hazy or misty toward Solway.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C.
Freezing Level
Just above higher summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 22nd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Variable direction, 10mph and under.
Effect of the wind on you?
Little to none
How Wet?
Occasional showers west
Occasional showery rain on hills near Galloway coasts, though totals will be low. May fall as sleet later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloudy south, clear spells north and east
High tops and southern slopes often under cloud to low elevations. Spells of clearing in the east and northern slopes near the Central Belt.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% south, 50% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little sun south, intermittent north and east. Higher cloud may weaken sun. Visibility mostly good where out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0 or 1C.
Freezing Level
800m, locally 700m western areas.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 23rd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly turning west-southwesterly; speeds likely increasing 25 to 40mph, risk 50mph for a time, suddenly squally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming impeded with increasing buffeting on higher terrain, risk difficult where exposed. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and upland snow setting in
Local showers in the morning, but a few hours likely dry, for longest in east. Rain developing from the southwest, abruptly heavy across Dumfries & Galloway, increasingly snow on higher tops, later to 500-600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied low cloud, breaks north
Cloud banks covering mostly south-facing hills in the morning, to lower slopes toward the Solway. Clearer toward the Lothians. Filling in and lowering more widely in rain/snow.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, early glimpses of sun before high cloud thickens. Visibility good away from cloud banks, reducing to poor in rain, appalling in snow on tops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
0C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, may drop slightly lower in heavier precipitation.
Planning Outlook
Deteriorating later this week - a series of storm systems coming in from the Atlantic through late January bringing frequently severe conditions to the mountains. Thursday sees winds reach gale force on many tops with a spell of heavy rain and upland snow developing from the west. By Friday, severe conditions from lower elevations upward, hurricane-force winds over the mountains, plus extensive rain and hill snow. Gales continue into Saturday, severe for the Highlands. Snow is likely to accumulate over Scottish mountains during the next week or so with only brief thawing. More variable temperatures for England and Wales with cycles of freeze and thaw. Atlantic patterns likely prevail into early February.