Home › Weather › National Weather Radar
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Australian News Desk Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
The national weather radar for Australia is a network of Doppler radars operated by the Bureau of Meteorology, giving you real-time rainfall and storm tracking across the continent. The live radar above shows the latest sweep, updated every six minutes, so you can see what’s heading your way.
How does the national radar work?
The Bureau of Meteorology runs more than 60 radars dotted around the country, from the 512-radar Melbourne today loop to the smaller installations in remote areas. Each radar sends out pulses of energy, then listens for echoes off rain, hail or snow. That data is stitched into a national picture – the live radar above – which refreshes every six to ten minutes. You can zoom into Melbourne weather or check the Brisbane weather for a local view.
For the best live coverage, the Bom radar Australia live feed is the go-to source. It covers the Adelaide weather patch, the Perth weather zone and everything in between. If you’re chasing the Vic weather radar live loop, that’s part of the same network – just select Victoria on the map above.
What can I see on the live radar?
The live radar above shows rain intensity (light blue to red), hail (highly reflective) and even snow at higher elevations. Use the Elders weather radar Australia live overlay or the best weather radar Australia options in the control panel to switch between echo types. If you’re after a quick scan, the Melbourne weather radar 256 km loop is a popular choice for southern residents. For severe storms, the live radar will highlight potential rotation – keep an eye on the Severe Weather Warning page for official alerts.
Is the national weather radar free to use?
Yes, the Bureau of Meteorology provides the raw data and the live radar image for free on its website. You can also access it through third-party apps that aggregate the same feeds.
How accurate is the radar for my suburb?
Accuracy is generally high within 100 km of a radar site. Farther out, the beam gets higher and may overshoot light rain. The national weather radar Australia network gives you reliable coverage across most populated areas.
Can I get historical radar loops?
The Bureau offers archived radar images for the past few days. For longer archives, third-party services like WillyWeather keep historical loops for up to a week.