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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the Public Report weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
A weather radar detects precipitation in real-time by transmitting radio pulses and measuring their return from raindrops, snowflakes or hail. The live radar above shows current rainfall intensity across the UK, updated every 5–10 minutes, helping you track approaching fronts, showers or snow bands.
How does the UK weather radar work and what can it show?
The Met Office network of 15 C-band radars covers the entire UK, scanning the atmosphere up to 250 km from each site. The radar detects not only rain and drizzle but also snow, sleet and hail. When you see blue or green returns on the live radar above, that indicates light rain; yellow, orange and red signal moderate to heavy downpours. For snow, the radar often shows a distinct texture and lower reflectivity values compared to rain of the same intensity. If you are checking weather radar snow conditions, look for returns that appear diffuse and pale on the colour scale, especially during winter months.
Where can I find live weather radar for my area?
The live radar above provides national coverage, but you can focus on specific regions. For live weather radar uk met office data, the map defaults to the whole country; zoom to your location using the controls. If you need weather radar near london or weather radar near manchester, simply pan the map over those cities. For a broader view, the weather radar world option shows global precipitation patterns. Many users also check weather radar bbc for an alternative visualisation, though the underlying data comes from the same Met Office source. For detailed planning, see our 10 Day Weather Forecast UK or the BBC Weather UK page.
Can weather radar detect snow accurately?
Yes, but snow returns a weaker signal than rain. The radar can identify snow by its lower reflectivity and distinct vertical profile. For weather radar snow uk forecasts, combine radar with temperature data to confirm precipitation type.
Why does the radar sometimes show false echoes?
Non-meteorological returns can come from birds, aircraft, wind turbines or ground clutter. The Met Office filters most of these out, but you may occasionally see stationary patches near hills or buildings that are not actual precipitation.
How far ahead can radar predict rain?
Radar shows current precipitation only. For short-term forecasts, the UKV model uses radar data to predict rain up to 6 hours ahead. For longer outlooks, see our Long Range Weather Forecast UK page.