Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Saturday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
The Pennines and east Scotland begin with weak sun through high cloud and largely dry. Western areas start cloudier with patchy rain, then Storm Boelo draws a swathe of heavy rain and severe gales eastward across all areas, a period of storm-force wind for many summits. Steams in spate, localised flooding.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Heavy rain and severe gales arrive; flood risk
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly, rising soon during morning to 40mph, rapidly reaching 60-70mph, and a swathe of stronger wind likely; marked increase with height. Speed and direction vary somewhat, later settling southwesterly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon arduous walking, increasingly difficult mobility on higher terrain with significant wind chill, including during a window of milder temperature.
How Wet?
Rain sets in heavily, particularly west; flooding
Dry for a few hours from dawn, for longest in east, then patchy rain moves in from west, setting in heavy for Dumfries & Galloway. Smaller amounts Borders and east at first, but heavy rain reaches here too. Showery into night. Saturated ground, flooding from previous rain, particularly east.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially most cloud above the hills, apart from odd patches at varied heights. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, forming to lower elevations southwest coastal areas. North and eastern areas remain clear of cloud longest, but will become extensive here too afternoon.
Chance of cloud free summits?
80% at first, dropping to 20% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun through high cloud from dawn, mainly in east, but giving way to overcast skies. Good visibility becomes hazier, then poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3C at dawn, rising to 7C afternoon, briefly may reach 10C later, then falling into night. Always feeling below freezing in the wind, to -7C during strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost some sheltered valleys at dawn, otherwise above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 55 to 75mph, gusts toward 90mph on high tops, peak speeds tending to lessen as the day goes on.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility difficult, wind often blowing you over; challenging even on lower hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain west
Showery to more constant rain particularly more western hills, some hail mixed in with heavier bursts. More scattered passing showers in areas furthest east, but may cluster for steady falls here too.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western tops
Cloud base varying, but often capping tops in Galloway above 700m, some banks in showers to 600m or lower. Further eastward, cloud will come and go on high tops, some good breaks locally around the Cheviot.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% west, 50% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent bursts of sun, mostly east. Fairly hazy west, poor visibility in showers, more often good toward east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2 or 3C. Wind chill feels like -10 to -15C in exposure.
Freezing Level
May just graze high summits for several afternoon hours.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Monday 26th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southerly 20-30mph, some variability, then strengthening, 35-40mph afternoon, further strengthening, 50mph+ into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be locally fairly small, but deteriorating afternoon, to later challenging conditions with wind chill despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
Rain sets in for most of the day
Rain arrives through morning, first west, and sets in for several hours of persistent falls, likely heavy for a time. Rain may later lessen but staying rather frequent, drizzly on high terrain.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive
Cloud patches graze most high tops to start the day, perhaps a few breaks just around dawn to the far north and east, but cloud increasingly extensive through morning, to middle slopes at east and to low slopes/valley level south Galloway.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun through high cloud in the morning, good visibility. Gradually clouding over to become overcast and dull.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3C, only slight rise, then sharply afternoon, finishing near 12C. Feeling near 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
May just graze highest summits at and before dawn, soon lifting well above.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south. Generally staying windy, particularly in Scotland. Some chance of a mid-late week ridge of high pressure in England and Wales, but unlikely to persist.