Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Friday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Prolonged heavy rain for south & eastern Scotland, increasingly snow over higher mountains. Patchier showery rain toward the west coast. Very variable wind for Scotland, but gales will be severe on Welsh mountains, heavy rain also persistent here. Rapid increase of wind over northern England into afternoon.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Gales developing widely. Widespread heavy rain, flooding.
How windy? (On the summits)
Easterly turning north-northwesterly 25-40mph, rising from west into middle of day to 50mph, reaching 60mph some high tops, increasing speeds extending eastward through afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery but variable for a time in morning, deteriorating widely as the day goes on, soonest in west, walking becoming challenging, powerful gusts may knock you over; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain much of the day, often heavy
More often raining than not, a few patchier moments but sustained heavy falls widely, trending eastward with time. Later breaking up in western areas, but may finish as sleet or snow on highest tops. Becoming dry into night. 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)
4 or 5C, lowering from west to 1C, later on eastern tops. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above most summits, but locally in west near Merrick lowering near to high tops around 800m into afternoon, later also tops near M74 and eastward into evening.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly, rising soon during morning to 40mph, rapidly reaching 60-70mph; marked increase with height.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon 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.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Westerly 55 to 70mph, gusts toward 90mph on high tops, peak speeds tending to lessen as the day goes on.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility difficult, often blowing you over; challenging even on modest hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain west
Showery to more constant rain particularly more western hills, some hail mixed in with heavier bursts. More scattered passing showers in areas furthest east.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western tops
Cloud base varying, but often capping tops in Galloway above 700m, some banks in showers to 600m or lower. Further eastward, cloud will come and go on high tops, some good breaks locally.
Chance of cloud free summits?
20% west, 50% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent bursts of sun, mostly east. Fairly hazy west, poor visibility in showers, more often good toward east.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C. Wind chill feels like -10 to -15C in exposure.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Heavy rain will sweep in again from the west during Saturday, leaving showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south.