Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Sunday'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.
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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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.
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
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive rain, sustained heavy falls over many western mountains, expect flooding. Smaller amounts of rain toward the N/E Cairngorms, also S/E Wales and Peak District. Widespread gales, powerful gusts around high tops, locally downslope to east. Blanket cloud across hills, lowest in west.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Gales, severe in places. Prolonged heavy rain west.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly, 40-55mph, most notably gusty east, 60mph over Cheviots. Tending to strengthen afternoon, reaching 70mph for a time. Easing only well into night from west to 30mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous conditions over the hills. Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including downslope. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain rarely ceasing, persistently heavy west; flooding
Rain throughout the day from south Galloway to the Moffat hills, at times into western Cheviots; sustained heavy falls, ongoing into evening. Patchier at times further north/east, but still setting in widely for periods. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate, flooding increasingly develops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest southwest
Blanket low cloud cloaks Dumfries & Galloway up to the Moffat hills with bases 300-500m, lowest on slopes facing Solway Firth. Often covering the east Borders and Cheviots above 600m. Some breaks toward the Pentlands.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%, to 30% Lothians.
Sunshine and air clarity?
No sunshine expected and often dull. Variable visibility, often dull west, best in the eastern Borders during dry periods.
How Cold? (at 750m)
6 to 8C; similar temperatures at all altitudes, may start to drop into night. Feeling like -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Monday 15th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the summits)
A variable westerly 15-20mph, may lull for periods; chance much stronger at dawn Cheviots.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Rain mostly east
Frequent or persistent rain over the Cheviots, reaching the Borders and Lothians for periods, a risk of extended falls here too. Drier Galloway though some patchy rain onto slopes near the Solway. Wet underfoot, flooding.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly east, variable caps to the west
Cloud shrouds the Cheviot all day, perhaps to middle slopes. Cloud caps over summits will frequent south Galloway and the western Borders as well, though these variable, at times lower but also clearing.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% west, 20% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, dull east, some brighter skies furthest west. Good visibility out of cloud/rain, but poor especially eastern areas.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C, a degree warmer east, possibly 6C Cheviots around dawn.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 16th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the summits)
West to southwesterly 20 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Noticeably breezy and feeling chilly over exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Chance of an odd light shower mainly near to the Solway coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud mostly west
Patchy cloud banks most common on hills toward the Solway, may come and go on slopes above 600m. Some local fog lower down in morning. More often clear hills toward the north and much of Borders.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and thin high cloud. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C. Feeling like -6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above highest summits. Slight frost sheltered valleys in morning.
Planning Outlook
Prolonged rain will leave flooding of streams and rivers in many mountain areas early in the new week, with the exception of northeastern Scotland. A frontal system will eventually pass eastwards Monday-Tuesday, wind easing; dropping to freezing above 900m, beware of ice forming on higher Scottish mountains. Drier conditions for many on Tuesday, though showery near west coast of Scotland. By Wednesday, another system sweeps in from the Atlantic bringing further rain and gales. A risk of more heavy rain particularly England and Wales later in the week. A change of weather pattern is likely in the run up to Christmas, as high pressure builds northward, bringing drier weather, possibly chillier with time.