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Southern Uplands Forecast

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
Sunshine and showers
Cold

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM Last Updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM Last Updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Southwesterly gales, severe across the Highlands, giving significant wind chill and showers. Showers frequent western Scotland, with snow falling down to 800m with hail and risk lightning. Scattered showers for England and Wales where hill fog confined to western tops.

Headline for Southern Uplands

Widespread gales with scattered showers and feeling cold. Sun best in the east.

How windy? (On the summits)

Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, may start to lessen a little.

Effect of the wind on you?

Difficult conditions over higher hills, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.

How Wet?

Passing showers

Scattering of showers, most frequent Dumfries and Galloway, risk of hail. Often dry Borders.

Cloud on the hills?

Occasionally on tops

Patches of cloud drifting across higher tops, mostly above 700-800m. Often clear into the Borders and Pentland hills.

Chance of cloud free summits?

60%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Sunshine most frequent east, cloudier Galloway. Visibility often very good, reduced in showers.

How Cold? (at 750m)

2 or 3C. Feeling like -12C directly in the wind.

Freezing Level

Just above highest summits.

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Saturday 20th December 2025
Last updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM

How windy? (On the summits)

South to south-easterly 20 to 30mph, but perhaps 40mph westernmost hills for a time.

Effect of the wind on you?

A very blustery and gusty airflow, arduous towards west coast especially, with considerable buffeting and wind chill.

How Wet?

Rain and drizzle mostly in west

As a front edges in from the west, rain and drizzle will likely become fairly widespread across hills near and west of the M74. Little if any in the east.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive in the west

Cloud covering the hills fairly extensive across hills near and west of the M74. Mainly just occasional caps of cloud over tops elsewhere.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30% west, 70% east.

Sunshine and air clarity?

A little weak sun possible should cloud layers thin, mostly likely in the east. Visibility good or very good, but poor in any rain. General haze west coast.

How Cold? (at 750m)

3 or 4C

Freezing Level

Above the summits

Viewing Forecast For

Southern Uplands
Sunday 21st December 2025
Last updated Thu 18th Dec 25 at 4:25PM

How windy? (On the summits)

Easterly 20 to 30mph

Effect of the wind on you?

Blustery and gusty winds, with sudden, strong gusts running downslope from ridges and passes. Significant wind chill.

How Wet?

Patchy rain, perhaps persistent later.

Patches of rain through the day. May be very little for a few hours, before there is a risk of a batch of more persistent rain moving up from the south in the afternoon.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive

Fairly extensive banks of cloud covering the hills through the day. Lowest bases across the Cheviots up to the Pentlands and also hills nearest the Solway.

Chance of cloud free summits?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Extensively dull. Visibility perhaps good at times, but marked haze and poor when in rain.

How Cold? (at 750m)

Around 2C

Freezing Level

Above the summits

Planning Outlook

A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier and colder theme develops into the Christmas period and perhaps into the New Year, as high pressure builds to the north and northeast. An extensive cloud sheet will likely come in from the North Sea over many days with light snow showers or flurries likely, rain to lower slopes, but many areas dry. Best breaks in the west.