Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Saturday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly severe conditions Scottish Highlands: gusty storm-force winds on high terrain and becoming wet from the west. Gales in England and Wales, severe from Snowdonia towards Lakeland/north Pennines; drizzly rain on western slopes, patches drifting east. Driest south Pennines.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Severe gales, storm-force gusts; afternoon rain from the west
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 40-45mph, soon strengthening, reaching a gusty 55-65mph afternoon, risk gusts of 70mph+ later in the day into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly challenging from mid-elevations up, mobility becomes difficult on higher terrain, severe gusts late in the day including some less exposed areas; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Afternoon rain west, more patchy east
A few patchy spots of rain near the Solway/Cheviot through the morning but often dry. During afternoon, rain sets in from the northwest, spreading widely across Dumfries and Galloway into evening with patches drifting to eastern hills, moreso after dark.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west, lowering
Varied banks of cloud in morning, but may cover many summits from Galloway to Moffat hills, as well as the Cheviot. Increasingly filling in and lowering across western hills, but breaks may remain over eastern Borders/Lothians until later afternoon.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Morning patchy sun soon becomes weakened by high cloud, later overcast. Visibility good in eastern areas, hazier west, deteriorating from the west as rain arrives.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2C rising steadily to reach 5C by dusk, rising several more degrees after dark. Wind chill feeling around -10 to -12C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the summits)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 45-55mph, risk strengthening, most notably east, 60mph over tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including downslope. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining, persistent west
Persistent rain from south Galloway to the Moffat hills, may be often heavy. Patches passing further north/east, a risk of setting in widely for periods.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly south/west, more variable east
A layer of cloud cloaks the summits of Galloway towards the Moffat hills with bases variably down to 400-600m on slopes facing Irish Sea/Solway. Cloud often covering the east Borders and Cheviot though variable.
Chance of cloud free summits?
10% west, 30% Cheviot/Lothians
Sunshine and air clarity?
No sunshine expected and often dull. Variable visibility, often dull west, best in the east during dry periods.
How Cold? (at 750m)
6 to 8C; variable and similar temperatures at all altitudes. Feeling like -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Monday 15th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the summits)
A variable westerly 15-20mph, may lull for periods; risk much stronger early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though risk more notable effects early.
How Wet?
Rain mostly east
Frequent or persistent rain over the Cheviots, reaching the Borders and Lothians for periods, a risk of extended falls here too. Drier Galloway though some patchy rain onto slopes near the Solway.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly east, variable caps to the west
Cloud shrouds the Cheviot all day, perhaps to middle slopes. Cloud caps over summits will frequent south Galloway and the western Borders as well, though these variable, at times lower but also clearing.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% west, 20% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little sunshine expected. Good visibility out of cloud/rain.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C, a degree warmer east. Several degrees warmer at and before dawn.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A brief spell of drier-brighter weather on Tuesday, but otherwise staying unsettled into next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Bands of rain will regularly pass eastward across most areas, showery in the west between wetter spells with hail at times. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Mild for the time of year, temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Detail becomes very uncertain after next weekend though temperatures likely to drop.