Southern Uplands

The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).

Wednesday's Forecast

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Tue 20th Oct 26 at 4:29PM
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Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated Tue 20th Oct 26 at 4:29PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Slow-moving areas of cloud and rain make for variable conditions fairly widely. A swathe of gales sweeps across Wales, later into England with heavy rain and low cloud. Brighter, showery weather follows into Wales later. Several pulses of rain in Scotland; steady falls in the east through morning, tending to lessen.

Headline for Southern Uplands

Rain coming and going, some steady falls, windy west later

How windy? (On the summits)

Variable low speeds 10-15mph or less, becoming westerly 20-30mph, risk stronger west Galloway for a time, sustained speeds approach 40mph with stronger gusts.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small, but becoming more blustery and feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, notably later in the west when strongest wind makes walking more strenuous with considerable buffeting.

How Wet?

Rain on and off

Areas of rain drift around slowly, steady falls of an hour or so briefly breaking up before rain returns. Heavy falls will tend to be localised, and perhaps a drier window for some hills east of the Borders.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive higher areas

Often capping higher tops above 700-800m, forming lower where rain occurs, to 400m towards western areas. Local breaks mainly towards east if out of rain, but any lengthy cloud breaks to summits unlikely.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Largely cloudy, a few bright glimpses here and there. Varied visibility, but will be good where out of cloud and rain.

How Cold? (at 750m)

4 or 5C, may locally approach 6C east, but then cooling from the west afternoon to finish near 2 or 3C. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated Tue 20th Oct 26 at 4:29PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Southwesterly 15-20mph, shifting south then southeasterly evening and beyond, greatly strengthening.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small during daylight, but significantly deteriorating overnight.

How Wet?

Few showers west

A few showers drift onto hills around Merrick, particularly towards Ayrshire, which may fall as snow on high summits early hours, but lengthy dry windows too. Little if any further east.

Cloud on the hills?

Banks on high tops, most west

From dawn, may be fairly extensive on high tops with patchy lower banks, mostly Moffat hills westward, but soon lifting to just banks above 700-800m, perhaps little or none towards the Lothians for several hours. Slopes near the Solway seeing most persistent cloud.

Chance of cloud free summits?

40%, rising to 60% east

Sunshine and air clarity?

Patchy sun, best of extended sun to the northeast. Very good visibility.

How Cold? (at 750m)

3 or 4C most of the day, rising slightly into evening/overnight. Feeling below freezing in direct wind.

Freezing Level

May just graze highest summits around dawn, but soon lifting above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Friday 23rd October 2026
Last updated Tue 20th Oct 26 at 4:29PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Easterly 25-40mph, lessening and trending variable, locally into a lull, then rising from the west, to northwesterly 40-50mph.

Effect of the wind on you?

Highly varied, window of fairly small effects for many but walking becomes arduous in the west later with considerable wind chill.

How Wet?

Rain much of the day

More often raining than not, a few patchier moments but sustained falls returning. Heaviest rain may start in the west and trend eastward with time, and may begin to break up westernmost hills later.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive

Cloud shrouds all hills to middle slopes likely all day, often to lower slopes with patches into valleys during heaviest rain. A little local variability as wind direction changes, but any breaks above 600-700m unlikely.

Chance of cloud free summits?

10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Mostly cloudy, a few bright glimpses from time to time. Generally poor visibility.

How Cold? (at 750m)

5 or 6C, lowering from west to 1C, though staying milder east during daylight. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits, though may lower to just above Merrick late in the day.

Planning Outlook

Thursday offers a window of brighter weather, a few showers will linger on west coastal areas, particularly west Scottish highlands. Thursday evening into Friday sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales. The exact track of the low remains uncertain, but expect periods of heavy rain widely, turning to snow on high Scottish summits. Varied wind, perhaps a lull in some north areas on Friday, but gales soon sweep into Wales and gradually spread widely. Varied conditions follow over the weekend: another brief window of high pressure on Saturday morning, followed by another area of low pressure for widespread rain and gales. Atlantic westerlies remain dominant next week, bringing several low pressure systems with rain and wind, punctuated by brief clearer windows.