Weather Radar UK
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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 20 June 2026 by the British News Desk weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
A weather radar detects precipitation in real time by sending out radio waves and measuring the echoes that bounce back from rain, snow or hail. On the live radar above you can see current rainfall intensity across the UK, updated every few minutes.
How does a weather radar work?
A ground-based radar dish emits pulses of microwave energy. When these hit raindrops, snowflakes or hail, some energy reflects back to the receiver. The time delay tells the distance, and the strength of the echo indicates the intensity of the precipitation. Modern networks, like the Met Office’s, combine data from multiple radar sites to give a seamless picture of UK rainfall, including live weather radar UK coverage.
What can the radar tell me in practice?
Use the live radar above to see whether rain is heading your way within the next hour or two. It shows light drizzle in blue through to heavy downpours in red. For snow, the radar can detect it, but the signal is weaker than for rain – so a separate weather radar snow interpretation is sometimes needed. The data also feeds weather radar BBC forecasts and many other apps.
Is weather radar the same as satellite imagery?
No. Radar looks at precipitation from the ground up; satellites take pictures of cloud tops from space. Radar shows what is actually falling, while satellite shows where clouds are. Both are useful together.
Can I see weather radar for other countries?
Yes. Many global providers offer weather radar world views. The UK Met Office operates its own network, but you can also access European composite radar and US NEXRAD data via third-party sites.
Does weather radar show snow accurately?
Radar can detect snow, but the signal is weaker than for rain because snowflakes are less dense. For reliable weather radar snow UK information, combine radar with ground reports and temperature data.
