Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Tuesday'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+
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.
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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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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+
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.
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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Tuesday 9th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe conditions becoming widespread and lasting onward into the night and Wednesday - stormy conditions, hurricane-force winds on higher mountains. Heavy rain sweeping northwards across Scotland during the day, breaking up into showers for England & Wales; flooding likely.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Heavy rain and increasingly stormy winds.
How windy? (On the summits)
Southeasterly strengthening from before dawn to 40-50mph, turning southerly in morning, rising further into afternoon to 60mph, or 70mph in Galloway. More widely S-SW'ly 70-80mph from dusk into evening and night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions and significant chill factor across exposed terrain all day, powerful gusts could knock you over, increasingly severe on western hills afternoon, then all areas after dark.
How Wet?
Morning heavy rain turns showery, local flooding
Rain arrives pre-dawn, setting in nearly incessant and often heavy through the morning. Breaking into showery rain afternoon, but rain remains frequent in the west. Beware fast rising streams and local flooding.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
A sheet of cloud cloaks the hills from middle slopes upward, lowest bases in southern Galloway and towards the Moffat hills. Some local improvements possible north Borders/Lothians, and perhaps some afternoon breaks west.
Chance of cloud free summits?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull, some bursts of sun may come through in afternoon, mainly inland. Poor visibility, may improve where rain fades, but staying hazy.
How Cold? (at 750m)
6 to 8C, warmest briefly midday hours, up to 10C. Sharply cooling after dark to 4C. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind; then rapidly into evening -10C or colder.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Wednesday 10th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 55mph, risk gusts 70mph higher tops, particularly Cheviots.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions from mid elevations upward, difficult over higher terrain; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers
Occasional showery rain. Driest toward Lothians and Borders.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly western tops
Cloud base varying, likely to come and go over higher slopes, most often Galloway. Breaks frequent Pentlands to Borders.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly north and east. Slight haze, visibility reduced briefly around showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C. Wind chill feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 11th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South-southwesterly 35 to 50mph, likely strongest in western areas, some uncertainty of peak speeds, risk 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, risk remaining difficult over higher tops in west.
How Wet?
Damp toward southwest
Drizzly rain may persist in areas near to the Solway up to Moffat hills. Spots in the wind elsewhere, but often dry north and eastern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west
Low cloud likely to cover southern hills near and west of the M74 corridor perhaps all day to 400-500m. Higher breaks north and eastward.
Chance of cloud free summits?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly near Lothians and Cheviots, cloudier west/southwest areas. Hazy or misty west, otherwise good visibility.
How Cold? (at 750m)
5C, may start to drop into evening or night. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A very unsettled pattern as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems move in from the Atlantic, sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Temperatures only close to freezing on higher Scottish tops this week, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, leaving snow increasingly patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Drier for most places on Thursday this week, otherwise rainfall will be frequent and heavy, sometimes showery with hail. Expect wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.