Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 21st May 2026
Last updated
Wed 20th May 26 at
3:59PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Morning rain in Scotland passes north, afternoon drizzle, rain returns in evening to central/west Munros; slick rock surfaces. Early rain soon clears English hills, afternoon drizzle in Lakeland. Morning drizzle in Wales fades, hills increasingly clear. Strong gusty wind too, local gale-force gusts. Warm Pennines and Wales.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Early patchy rain and gusty wind; drizzle and low cloud west
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 30-35mph from dawn, also quite gusty, approaching 40mph, including downslope to the north. Easing to 25-30mph, perhaps lower at times west, but restrengthening from mid-afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure all day and feeling cool, more strenuous both early and late in the day. Buffeting gusts at times challenge stability, including downslope early in the day.
How Wet?
Morning patchy rain, afternoon drizzle
Rain for several morning hours, most persistent Galloway and heavy on south slopes. Rain passes northeast, mostly clearing by midday. Summit drizzle follows, down to middle slopes from Moffat hills westward; trending drier east. A few hours of patchy rain returns to the west around evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive west, improving east
Blanket cloud 500m up most areas at dawn, to 200-300m south aspects west of Moffat. As rain breaks, cloud lifts in north and east areas, possibly some breaks for the Lothians and Cheviot, but south Galloway slopes remain shrouded to at least middle slopes.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10% west, rising to 40% east/north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull with poor visibility west. Some glimpses of sun with improved visibility in the east as the day goes.
How Cold? (at 750m)
8C, rising to 10 or 11C, mildest in the east; little change with height. Staying elevated into night and may rise further east (valleys will cool). Feeling like 1 to 3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 22nd May 2026
Last updated
Wed 20th May 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 30-35mph, strongest west, gusting 40mph, downslope too. Easing to 20-30mph, strongest east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, particularly west; buffeting gusts challenge stability, lower terrain too, feeling chilly. Easing slightly.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some risk of odd spots of rain affecting hills in Dumfries and Galloway, but most hills stay dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to tops, well-broken east
Variable banks of cloud in the morning across most heights, low and extensive west of Moffat. Bases lift, likely to or above tops east of M74 and breaking here. Cloud lingers longer west, slow to clear above 700m, and less broken.
Chance of cloud free summits?
70% east, 40% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy, some glimpses of sun breaking out, best east. Very good visibility where cloud clears.
How Cold? (at 750m)
10 to 12C, rising up to 14C towards the Cheviot. Little change around Merrick. Feeling near freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 23rd May 2026
Last updated
Wed 20th May 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 20-25mph, gusts at times approaching 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be fairly small but gusts often a nuisance, or occasionally impeding walking.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some fine drizzle early in cloud from summits around M74 westward. This will fade for a dry day.
Cloud on the hills?
Improving, only slowly southwest
Extensive M74 and west, to 200-300m. Variable banks north and eastward, most broken Lothians. Bases rise, mostly above 800m by afternoon, well-broken north and east. Merrick may struggle to clear until later.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Rising to 70%; 40% Merrick
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, though weakened by high cloud. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
8C rising to 11 or 12C, or warmer Cheviots.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Pressure rises into the weekend, facilitating south-southwesterly flow; much milder temperatures arriving, likely warm in England and Wales with wind easing. Staying blustery in north Scotland, gusty too, including to lower slopes early; still feeling chilly on high Scottish tops. Patchy rain and hill cloud will continue to affect Scotland as well, most often in the west. Becoming dry and sunny England and Wales, some early low fog possible, particularly on aspects near the Irish Sea, but this dissipating soon after sunrise. Higher pressure is indicated into next week as well with hot temperatures: valleys approaching the mid-to-high 20s. Some hill cloud, mostly north and west, but most hills seeing plenty of sunshine. Only rare spots of light rain if any.