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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Oz Briefly Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Brisbane radar at Stapylton operates on a 256 km range, with 128 km and 512 km loops available on the live radar above. For current precipitation intensity across the city and surrounding regions, this radar updates every six minutes, showing rain bands, storms and clearing patches in near-real time.
What does the Brisbane radar show?
The radar captures rainfall intensity using a C-band Doppler system. On the live radar above, lighter rain appears as blue and green, while yellow to red indicates moderate to heavy falls. The 128 km zoomed loop is best for suburb-level tracking; the 512 km wide view shows weather moving in from the coast or inland. For a complete picture, combine radar with the Brisbane weather forecast and satellite imagery from the BOM.
How to use the radar for your day
Check the 128 km loop every 10–15 minutes to see if rain is heading your way. The Stapylton radar is the primary source for the greater Brisbane area, including the Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast. For airport-specific conditions, the bom radar brisbane airport data is included in the same feed. If you want to plan ahead, the weather radar brisbane tomorrow trend is best estimated by watching the bom brisbane radar 128 km loop over several hours and cross-referencing with the 10-day forecast.
How do I know when rain will reach my suburb?
Watch the 128 km loop on the live radar above. Estimate the speed of the rain band by checking its movement over 12–18 minutes. Then compare travel time to your location relative to the radar centre (Stapylton).
Is the radar data used for storm warnings?
Yes. The BOM issues severe thunderstorm warnings based on radar reflectivity and Doppler wind data. If you see red or purple returns with sharp edges, check the warnings page and stay alert.
What’s the difference between the 128 km and 512 km loops?
The 128 km loop gives sharp detail of rain near Brisbane city and suburbs. The 512 km loop shows broader weather systems moving in from the coast or inland, useful for longer-range awareness.