UK weather radar
Rain and snow over the last two hours, updated about every ten minutes. Press play to animate. The forecast for this hour has rain at Lerwick, Norwich.
Radar and forecast are different things
The radar tells you where it is raining now and how the rain has moved. Watching the last half hour of frames is the best guide there is to the next half hour: showers usually keep moving in the same direction at the same speed.
Beyond an hour or so, showers grow and die out and fronts change speed, so use the forecast. The rain forecast shows when the next rain reaches each city and how much is expected.
Source: RainViewer and OpenStreetMap contributors. Updated . Radar composite from RainViewer, used under its terms for non-commercial use; maximum detail is limited
About the radar
How does weather radar work?
Radar stations send out microwave pulses and listen for the echo from raindrops, snowflakes and hail. The stronger the echo, the heavier the precipitation. The UK is covered by a network of radars whose images are combined into one map.
Why does the radar stop at the present?
Radar can only see rain that is already falling. Our radar source no longer provides a short-range projection, so for the next few hours use the hourly forecast on each city page.
Why does light drizzle sometimes not show?
Very small drops give a weak echo, and the beam rises with distance from each radar, so it can pass over low drizzle or hill fog. Snow also shows weaker than rain of the same amount.