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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Australia Data Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
The live radar above shows real-time rain and hail activity across Australia, using the Bureau of Meteorology’s national network. You can see approaching storms, drizzle bands, and dry patches for cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane without refreshing the page.
How to read the live radar above
The colours on the radar reflect intensity: light blues show scattered showers, greens indicate steady rain, while yellows and reds mark heavy downpours or hail. If you’re checking the weather radar melbourne or weather radar brisbane, note that composite images cover a 512-kilometre radius, so coastal bands and inland storms appear clearly. The loop updates every 10 minutes, giving you a reliable short-range picture for Weather Today planning.
What about major city radars?
For weather radar sydney, the Terrey Hills site picks up a 256-km sweep covering the basin and Blue Mountains. Weather radar adelaide uses the Buckland Park tower and works well for Gulf St Vincent and the hills. Weather radar gold coast data is best from the Mount Stapylton radar near Brisbane, which also feeds the weather radar brisbane bom feed. If you’re heading to the Sunshine Coast, switch to the weather radar noosa view from the Maroochydore site for local shower bands. For broader planning, visit the Weather Forecast Australia page.
When to trust the radar less
Radar beams can overshoot low-level drizzle beyond 100 km, and “speckle” from insects or birds sometimes appears on clear days. Always cross-check with the BOM Weather Australia page or the weather radar bom calibration notes. For severe storms, rely on Severe Weather Warning alerts rather than radar alone.
Can I see wind on the radar?
No, radar only detects precipitation particles like raindrops and hailstones. Wind direction and speed come from separate Doppler velocity images available on the BOM site.
Why is the radar blank?
Radars operate in clear-air mode during dry spells and may show faint noise. If the image is genuinely blank, the site is offline – check the BOM radar status page for maintenance schedules.
How far ahead can the radar predict rain?
Radar shows what’s happening now. For forecasts beyond 60–90 minutes, combine radar trends with a synoptic chart or the Weather Tomorrow Australia outlook.