Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Damp for most, fairly widespread drizzle, rain, and low cloud; a rising risk of steady falls with heavy bursts in England and Scotland. Areas north of major hill groups see lighter, patchier rain, and north Scotland starts drier. Scotland will be windy; lighter wind southward, particularly Wales.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Drizzle and steady rain west, brief breaks east
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places around some high tops, lasting longest towards the Cheviots and Lothians, strongest gusts approaching 40mph. A general easing trend later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect ease of walking on exposed terrain with marked wind chill, strongest gusts starting to affect stability, which may last well into the day on easternmost hills.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle, fairly persistent west
Generally damp all day, falls quite steady on south aspects near and west of the M74. More patchy to the north and east, some chance of a drier window towards the Lothians. Through afternoon, rain spreads widely with heavier falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some chance higher breaks east
Low cloud blanketing most hills in fog from lower elevations upward. Local higher bases and some breaks above 600m toward north of the region, and perhaps a window of cloud breaks towards high terrain on northern aspects of the Cheviot and Lothians, but returning extensively here too.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull and misty from many lower slopes upward. Chance a few brighter breaks in the east, particularly north of high terrain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5 to 7C, mildest in the west with little change all day, and may become more widely around 7C into evening. Feeling like 0 to -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Variable low speeds 10-15mph or less, becoming westerly 20-30mph, risk stronger west Galloway.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but becoming more blustery and feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, most likely west.
How Wet?
Rain may persist west
Highly uncertain as areas of rain move around slowly, but risk fairly persistent with some heavier falls in Dumfries & Galloway. Chance of lingering rain also Cheviots.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often capping higher tops above 700-800m, or forming lower toward southwest in rain. Local breaks mainly northward.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility good if dry below cloud, but reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
4 or 5C, may locally approach 6C east. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
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?
Little expected
Overnight rain over the Cheviots will clear right around dawn. A few showers drift onto hills around Merrick, particularly Ayrshire hills, may briefly falls as snow on high summits, but lengthy dry windows too.
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 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 from overnight into dawn, lifting above all summits.
Planning Outlook
A complex weather setup into midweek with slow-moving fronts bringing areas of rain and fairly extensive low cloud over the hills. Varied wind speeds and direction, though a risk of gales quickly sweeping into England and Wales Wednesday. Thursday may offer a window of brighter weather and lessening wind, but Thursday evening into night sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales with heavy rain and gales, possibly turning to snow on higher mountains. Scotland may avoid this system and just see showers mostly in the west for Friday, wintry on tops. Atlantic southwesterlies then follow into the weekend: strong wind, periods of low cloud and rain, brighter windows too but with showers in the west. Some risk of stormy conditions in Scotland. Generally unsettled weather likely prevails to the end of October.