Home › Weather › Weather Radar
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.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology operates about 70 weather radars that update every 6–10 minutes, covering most capital cities and regional centres. The live radar above shows real‑time rain and hail intensity across your area.
What does the live radar show?
The radar above displays reflectivity — how strongly precipitation bounces back the radar beam. Lighter colours (blue, green) indicate drizzle or light rain; yellow, orange and red signal heavier rain or hail. Doppler radar also measures wind direction and speed, helping detect storm rotation. For city‑specific views, check weather radar Melbourne, weather radar Sydney, weather radar Brisbane, weather radar Adelaide or weather radar Gold Coast — all are part of the national BOM network. The weather radar Noosa loop is useful for coastal showers, while weather radar Brisbane BOM gives the official feed for southeast Queensland.
How to use the radar for your location
Zoom into your suburb on the live map or select a specific radar site. Each radar has a range of about 128–256 km, but hills and buildings can block the beam. For the most accurate forecast, combine radar with BOM’s 10‑day outlook and severe weather warnings. The weather radar BOM page is the authoritative source for all Australian radar imagery.
How often is the weather radar updated?
Most BOM radars refresh every 6–10 minutes. During severe storms, some sites update as often as every 2–3 minutes to give you the fastest warning.
Why does the radar sometimes show false echoes?
Birds, insects, smoke, and even buildings can reflect the radar beam, creating “false” returns. BOM filters many of these, but some may still appear as light green specks.
Can I see radar for my specific city?
Yes. The live radar above covers all of Australia. For a dedicated view, search for weather radar Melbourne, weather radar Sydney, weather radar Brisbane, or any other capital city. BOM’s site also lets you pick individual radar stations.
Sources
For more detail, visit our Australia weather hub or check the forecast page for your area. Always confirm live radar with official BOM weather updates.