Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Today's Forecast
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
7:08AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong winds early in the day, gale force particularly toward the Cairngorms, lessening to lower speeds with time for all areas. Some early rain and upland snow in northeast Scotland clears. A few showers near west coasts fade. Cloud breaks above many tops with some sunshine, but remaining chilly all day.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Strongest wind eases. Local showers west, sun and broken cloud.
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 25-40mph from dawn into morning, strongest and for longest on eastern hills, tending to lessen west-southwesterly to 20-25mph afternoon, later 15mph. Then switching south-southeasterly 20-30mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and considerable wind chill early morning, walking more arduous early in day on high eastern tops, but becoming smaller as the day goes on.
How Wet?
Local showers west
A few showers drift onto hills around Merrick, particularly towards Ayrshire, a snow flurry on highest tops early in day. An odd shower drifts toward the M74. Largely dry all day further east.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks on high tops, most west, lifting
From dawn, fairly extensive on high tops with patchy lower banks, mostly Moffat hills westward, but soon lifting to just banks above 700-800m, and often clear of most eastern tops.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% rising to 60% west, 80% 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 like -5 to nearer -10C on highest tops in early 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
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
7:08AM
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 but walking becomes rapidly arduous later with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain much of the day, often heavy
More often raining than not, a few patchier moments but sustained heavy falls likely, trending eastward with time. Later breaking up in western areas, but may finish as sleet or snow on highest tops. Very wet underfoot; flooding develops.
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 in east during daylight. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above most summits, but locally in west near Merrick may lower onto high tops around 800m, later also tops near M74.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
7:08AM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly, rising soon during morning to 40mph, rapidly reaching 60mph+; marked increase with height.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, becoming arduous walking, increasingly difficult mobility on higher terrain, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain sets in, heavy west; flooding
Saturated ground, flooding from previous rain. 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. Showery into night.
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; some higher breaks remain north and eastern areas.
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.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost some sheltered valleys at dawn, otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
High rainfall over the southeastern Highlands during Friday brings a risk of flooding here as the weekend begins. A deep area of low pressure moves toward northwest Scotland into the weekend to bring widespread rain and gales, stormy conditions develop over many mountains, the strongest sustained winds over Scottish tops into Sunday in excess of 70-80mph with more powerful gusts. Temperature will vary, briefly above freezing to all tops, then back just below zero on Scottish Munros by Sunday with frequent showers of hail and snow on high mountains. Atlantic west-southwesterlies remain dominant next week, bringing several low pressure systems with rain and wind, punctuated by brief clearer windows. Flooding is possible as rainfall totals build.



