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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 20 June 2026 by the PressHive weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
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A weather radar detects precipitation in real time, showing rain, sleet or snow moving across the UK. The live radar above gives you an immediate picture of what is heading your way, from the Highlands to the South Coast.
How does the live radar above work?
The live radar above uses a network of Met Office and Environment Agency ground stations that send out microwave pulses. When those pulses hit raindrops, snowflakes or hail, they bounce back. The strength and timing of the return signal is plotted on a colour-coded map, with blues and greens for light rain and reds for heavy downpours. For the most accurate picture of live weather radar uk, the data refreshes every five minutes.
What can the radar tell me today?
Across England and Wales, a band of patchy rain is drifting east from the Bristol Channel, with brighter spells following behind. In Scotland, the weather radar snow signal is picking up sleet over the Grampians, turning to rain at lower levels. Northern Ireland stays mostly dry with broken cloud. If you are checking weather radar near manchester or weather radar near london, the live radar above shows light showers passing both cities this afternoon. For a broader view, the weather radar world setting lets you track Atlantic systems approaching the British Isles.
Can I use the radar to see snow tonight?
Yes. The weather radar snow uk setting distinguishes snow from rain by analysing the reflectivity and altitude of the echo. Switch to the snow overlay on the live map above for a clearer view.
Is this the same data as weather radar bbc?
The live radar above draws from the same Met Office network that supplies weather radar bbc and other forecasters. The difference is you see the raw, unfiltered images directly, without any smoothing or delay.
How accurate is the live weather radar uk met office feed?
It is highly accurate for immediate precipitation within 50–100 km of a station. Accuracy decreases at the edge of the radar range, so always cross-check with the 10 Day Weather Forecast UK for longer-term planning.
Sources
For more detail, see our UK weather hub or check the Moderate Rainfall Warning for your area. If you are after the driest spot, our Warmest Place In Uk Today page is updated each morning.