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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the Daily Press UK weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
Weather radar uses a network of ground stations to detect precipitation in real time, showing rain, sleet or snow across the UK and beyond. The live radar above refreshes every few minutes so you can track approaching fronts and plan your journey accordingly.
How does weather radar work?
Radar units emit pulses of microwave energy that bounce off raindrops, snowflakes or hail. The returned signal reveals both the location and intensity of precipitation. The Met Office & other providers combine data from multiple radars into a seamless national map. That same data updates the live radar above, typically every 5–15 minutes depending on the source (such as BBC Weather or the Met Office’s own live weather radar UK feed). The radar can also detect movement direction, giving a short-term nowcast.
How accurate is the live radar above?
For general rain area and intensity, accuracy is high within about 10–20 km of a radar site. Coverage gaps exist in remote parts of Scotland and over the sea. The live feed above is sourced from an amalgamation of radar data, so it’s as close to real time as publicly available. Bear in mind that light drizzle or very heavy showers can be underestimated; for snow, the signal is weaker but still useful for watching banded precipitation. Check our /weather/warnings/ page for official alerts.
What does the colour scale on the radar mean?
Blue and green indicate light rain; yellow and orange show moderate rain; red and magenta signal heavy downpours or hail. For weather radar snow, pinkish shades often represent sleet or wet snow, while white/grey tones can indicate dry snowflakes.
Why might the radar show nothing near me?
If no precipitation is falling, the radar displays a blank area. Also, very light drizzle may fall below the radar’s sensitivity. For weather radar near London or weather radar near Manchester you may see a clear patch even though a few spots are falling.
Can I see snow on the live radar above?
Yes. Snowflakes reflect radar differently to rain, but the signal is still strong enough to track snow bands. Look for the “snow” colour scale (often white or light pink) on the overlay. For live weather radar UK snow updates, zoom into the relevant region.
For more radar options, see our UK weather hub and BBC Weather UK page. We also cover Weather Tomorrow UK and 10 day forecast. If you need longer-range trends try Long Range Weather Forecast or the Warmest Place In Uk Today.