Southern Uplands
The Galloway hills eastward to the Lammermuir hills. The Cheviots (including higher hills within the adjacent Northumberland NP).
Thursday'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.
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.
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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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: South to south-west gales bringing hill fog and showers, before band of heavy, perhaps squally, rain moves up from the southwest in afternoon, snow tops. England and Wales: Heavy rain spreading north with hill fog becoming extensive with strong to gale force southerly winds.
Headline for Southern Uplands
Southerly gales with showers easing, before heavy rain moves in from south.
How windy? (On the summits)
South to southwesterly 30 to 50mph, speed likely to vary, possibly lessening further for a time during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Changeable, but at times arduous walking conditions over exposed higher terrain, considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain likely setting in afternoon
Patchy showers mostly Galloway, but often dry for a few hours. Then heavy rain moving in from southwest during afternoon, risk squally rain. Breaking up into showery rain and hail (snow high tops) evening into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, becoming extensive
Patchy cloud around some hills, mainly near Solway. Elsewhere may be clearer, but cloud lowering over hills widely in rain.
Chance of cloud free summits?
40% dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, varied layers of high cloud, but visibility good where dry, best in north; reducing if rain develops.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C, then lowering near 0C into night. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, then dropping into the night toward 800m or just above.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the summits)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, may start to lessen a little.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over higher hills, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Passing showers
Scattering of showers, most frequent Dumfries and Galloway, risk of hail. Often dry Borders.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasionally on tops
Patches of cloud drifting across higher tops, mostly above 700-800m. Often clear into the Borders and Pentland hills.
Chance of cloud free summits?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most frequent east, cloudier Galloway. Visibility often very good, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 750m)
2 or 3C. Feeling like -12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Just above highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Southern Uplands
Saturday 20th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the summits)
South to south-easterly 20 to 30mph, but perhaps 40mph westernmost hills for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
A very blustery and gusty airflow, arduous towards west coast especially, with considerable buffeting and wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle mostly in west
As a front edges in from the west, rain and drizzle will likely become fairly widespread across hills near and west of the M74. Little if any in the east.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive in the west
Cloud covering the hills fairly extensive across hills near and west of the M74. Mainly just occasional caps of cloud over tops elsewhere.
Chance of cloud free summits?
30% west, 70% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun possible should cloud layers thin, mostly likely in the east. Visibility good or very good, but poor in any rain. General haze west coast.
How Cold? (at 750m)
3 or 4C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. Showery on Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives onto western hills into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.