Mountain Weather

Best time to visit Southern Scotland for mountain weather.

Across a typical year, 42% of high-ground days were settled for rain and wind, with around 203 wet days.

Settled high-ground days42%Dry with manageable model-grid gustsWet days per year203At least 1 mm of precipitationTypical annual precipitation1,368 mmRepresentative high-ground gridAnnual bright sunshine1,215 hrsMet Office 1991–2020 · Glenlee

Sunshine is a separate Met Office long-term average from Glenlee, used for regional context. It is not included in the settled-day score and does not promise summit views.

Plan beyond the forecast

Choose an area and week.

Choose the week you are planning to visit and compare the typical mountain weather, then explore the month-by-month picture below.

Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 44 · 31 October

What this week is typically like on Southern Scotland high ground.

Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 38% were settled for rain and wind and 22% were poor or severe for rain and wind.

Check the live Southern Scotland forecast →
Settled rain and wind38%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind22%Dry, manageable wind16%Mixed40%Poor18%Severe4%
Historically dry41% of daysTypical daily max gust30 mphStronger days around 42 mphTypical high ground4.0°C24-hour mean near 843 mPoor or severe rain/wind22% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast

October context: 37% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 19% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full October guide.

Valley and low level for this week

Around Newton Stewart.

Representative base · 20 m
Typical daily high11.5°CWarmer days 13.7°CHistorically dry43%41% dry with lighter windMaximum wind15 mphStronger days 20 mphTypical overnight low7.5°CCooler nights 4.2°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Southern Scotland month by month
January to December

Southern Scotland weather by month.

Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.

January35% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 45% dry · 7.7°C daily high
February36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 47% dry · 8.0°C daily high
March39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 50% dry · 9.4°C daily high
April45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 9% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 54% dry · 11.2°C daily high
May51% settled rain/wind
High ground: 41% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 57% dry · 14.1°C daily high
June47% settled rain/wind
High ground: 47% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 54% dry · 16.1°C daily high
July43% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 5% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 52% dry · 17.6°C daily high
August40% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 48% dry · 17.5°C daily high
September45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 44% mixed · 11% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 53% dry · 16.0°C daily high
October37% settled rain/wind
High ground: 44% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 45% dry · 13.4°C daily high
November38% settled rain/wind
High ground: 40% mixed · 22% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 44% dry · 10.2°C daily high
December38% settled rain/wind
High ground: 35% mixed · 27% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 46% dry · 8.3°C daily high
Strongest historical signals

Best weeks of the year for Southern Scotland mountain weather.

These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.

Based on ERA5 reanalysis from the Copernicus Climate Change Service for 1986–2025, summarised for representative high-ground and valley locations. These are reconstructed historical conditions, not a continuous summit weather-station record. Sunshine uses separate Met Office 1991–2020 averages.

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

20 mountain areas

Compare another part of the UK.

The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.

Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually