Melbourne Weather Radar | Rain Radar for Melbourne VIC 128km (2024)

Melbourne Radar Notes

Melbourne Weather Watch RadarVictoria

VIC37.8520°S 144.7520°E 14m AMSL

LocationApproximately 19km WSW of Melbourne's CBD
Radar TypeM1500-S1, 1 degree S-band Doppler radar
Typical Availability24 hours

Geographical Situation; The radar is situated on the western plains of the Melbourne basin some 19km west-south-west of the Central Business District, about six kilometres from the western shores of Port Phillip bay and on a low rise about 20m above mean sea level. The radar is on a tower 24m above ground level. The Great Dividing Range dominates the topography from the east, through the north to the west. The most significant obstructions, starting from the east, are: Mt Dandenong 644m high, 53km to the east; Yarra ranges 1219m, 83km to ENE; Mt Macedon 1013m, 56km to the north; Pentland Hills 763m and the Brisbane ranges 421m, 45km from the NNW through to the west and the You Yangs 363m, 30km to the SW. Meteorological Aspects; The radar is well sited to provide very good coverage for the Greater Melbourne Metropolitan Area. The high ground from the east, through north and to the south west tends to obscure shallow rain falling further away. Summer thunderstorms that develop on the surrounding hills and mountains may be observed in detail. Similarly, cold fronts and associated rain and thunderstorms approaching from the northwest, through west and south are well detected. The location on the floor of a wide basin is ideal for Doppler observations which provide wind speed information. Non-meteorological aspects; In most cases the processing of the radar signal removes permanent echoes caused by obstructions such as hills, buildings and other solid objects rather than rainfall. Occasionally, some permanent echoes will not be completely removed from the display. These echoes usually occur along ridges and peaks as isolated, stationary patches, being most common near the Yarra Ranges to the ENE and Mount Macedon to the north. These usually become more noticeable on cold, clear, winter nights or early winter mornings. Because the radar has an unobstructed view of Port Phillip Bay out to about 25km, sea-clutter may be seen over the bay during strong winds. These echoes may be distinguished from rain as they do not move with the wind and end abruptly at the shoreline of the bay.Doppler observations are occasionally affected by multi path reflections off Melbourne City buildings and approaching rain bands. These appear as radials of incorrect Doppler velocities in the area to the northeast of the radar. Doppler observations can also reveal the presence of flocks of birds over Port Phillip Bay, which appear as thin lines, and generally have a higher velocity than the surrounding area.

About Future Radar

Future radar is a new drop-down option available on the Weatherzone radar, allowing you to see where precipitation may fall in the next 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hour timeframe. It is a prediction that uses past radar and satellite data to infer the movement and intensity of precipitation. This differs from observed radar which uses physical instrumentation to measure and render precipitation as it happens.

Future radar performs best with broad scale weather systems. However there are limitations in its performance when volatile convective systems develop and change within a short timeframe, as these scenarios provide local impacts that are difficult to predict in terms of speed, direction, intensity and shape.

To help visually distinguish between past timeframes and future timeframes, the radar animation will show predicted radar imagery at reduced opacity. You have the option to turn future radar on or off as it suits your needs.

Latest News

Today, 12:03AM UTCSpring 2024 outlook for Australia: warm and stormy season with increased fire risk
09 Sep, 1:38AM UTCAussie snow season just about dead
08 Sep, 6:17AM UTCInternational Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
07 Sep, 5:25AM UTCVery warm September morning for parts of NSW
06 Sep, 8:33PM UTCThe long road to the World Surf League finals
Today, 12:03AM UTCSpring 2024 outlook for Australia: warm and stormy season with increased fire risk
09 Sep, 1:38AM UTCAussie snow season just about dead
08 Sep, 6:17AM UTCInternational Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
07 Sep, 5:25AM UTCVery warm September morning for parts of NSW
06 Sep, 8:33PM UTCThe long road to the World Surf League finals

Map Legend

Lightning Heatmap

  • 0.1
  • 15
  • 60

Lightning Pulses / Square kilometre per minute

Lightning Strikes

  • Latest
  • 15 MINS AGO
  • 30 MINS AGO
  • 45 MINS AGO
  • 60 MINS AGO

Ground Strike

Cloud to Cloud Strike

Obs Field (Rainfall - 10 mins)

  • < 0.2
  • < 0.6
  • < 1.2
  • < 2.4
  • < 5
  • < 10
  • 10+

Obs Field (Rainfall - Since 9AM)

  • < 0.2
  • < 5
  • < 10
  • < 25
  • < 50
  • < 100
  • 100+

Obs Field (Temperature)

0° C15° C40° C

Obs Field (Dew Point)

0° C10° C30° C

Obs Field (Wind km/h)

  • 0 - 19
  • 20 - 30
  • 31 - 39
  • 40 - 61
  • 62 - 87
  • 88+

Rain radar

Melbourne Weather Radar | Rain Radar for Melbourne VIC 128km (21)

Light

Heavy

Thunderstorm Risk

  • Thunderstorms possible
  • Thunderstorms likely
  • Thunderstorms severe

Temperature Gradient Map

  • -8 °C
  • -4 °C
  • 0 °C
  • 4 °C
  • 8 °C
  • 12 °C
  • 16 °C
  • 24 °C
  • 28 °C
  • 32 °C
  • 36 °C
  • 40 °C
  • 44 °C
  • 48 °C

Warning Areas (BOM)

  • SEVERE WEATHER
  • FIRE
  • FLOOD
  • COASTAL WIND
  • MISC.

Related Links

Synoptic ChartMelbourne satellite
Melbourne Weather Radar | Rain Radar for Melbourne VIC 128km (2024)

FAQs

Where is the Melbourne radar? ›

Melbourne Radar Notes

Geographical Situation; The radar is situated on the western plains of the Melbourne basin some 19km west-south-west of the Central Business District, about six kilometres from the western shores of Port Phillip bay and on a low rise about 20m above mean sea level.

Where is the Cairns radar? ›

Cairns radar is situated approximately 9km NNW of Cairns airport at Saddle Mountain on the Kuranda range at a height of 652m above MSL.

How do you read weather radar data? ›

Warm colors (red) / positive values indicate wind moving away from the radar (along a radial). Cool colors (green) / negative values indicate wind moving toward the radar. Purple indicates “range folding”— where the radar cannot determine the radial velocity. Velocity image of a large-scale weather system.

Why are there lines on the weather radar? ›

You may notice on hot, summer days, strange looking lines on the radar, even though there isn't any rain. These are called convective rolls, and they happen when hot air tries to rise, but something is preventing that air from continuing to rise and it sinks back down to the surface.

What is the coldest month in Melbourne? ›

Melbourne's top temperatures are usually in January and February. Those months are often dry, with hot spells and cooling afternoon breezes off Port Phillip Bay. June and July are the coldest months and October is the wettest. Annual average rainfall for Melbourne is around 649 mm.

How does radar work? ›

The word radar comes from the acronym radio detection and ranging. As the name implies, radars use radio waves to determine the distance and velocity of the targets they hit. A radar system usually consists of a transmitter to send out radio signals and a receiver to catch any reflected energy from targets.

Which country has over the horizon radar? ›

The United States Navy created their own system, the AN/TPS-71 ROTHR (Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar), which covers a 64-degree wedge-shaped area at ranges from 500 to 1,600 nautical miles (925 to 3,000 km).

How many radar towers are in the US? ›

NEXRAD or Nexrad (Next-Generation Radar) is a network of 159 high-resolution S-band Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service (NWS), an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the United States Department of Commerce, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ...

Where did radar start? ›

It is historically correct that, on June 17, 1935, radio-based detection and ranging was first demonstrated in Britain. Watson Watt, Wilkins, and Bowen are generally credited with initiating what would later be called radar in this nation.

Which weather radar is the most accurate? ›

The WSR-88D is one of the most powerful and advanced Weather Surveillance Doppler Radar in the world. Since first being built and tested in 1988, it has been installed and used operationally at over 160 locations across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

What does a black dot mean on a weather radar? ›

Black dots represent divergence centers. Arrow length is proportional to wind speed. Negative (positive) Doppler velocities represent flow toward (away from) the radar. (

What does dark green mean on radar? ›

It has to do with the type and intensity of the precipitation. The colors are typically a spectrum. The greens indicate light or moderate rainfall. Yellow, orange, and red indicate moderate to heavy rainfall and can also indicate hail.

What color is a tornado on radar? ›

On a weather radar map, a tornado is usually indicated by a smaller area of red surrounded by a larger area of green. However, modern radar systems can also indicate debris balls, a sign of a tornado on the ground.

Is the radar always right? ›

Police radar devices must be regularly recalibrated to ensure their accuracy. Regular maintenance and calibration are essential for precise measurements. Without routine checks, radars can display incorrect speeds because of wear and tear, environmental influences, and technological errors.

How can weather radar be wrong? ›

If a radar gun hasn't been properly (or recently) calibrated, it can yield a bad reading—just like a scale that isn't calibrated to “zero” will tell you the wrong weight. Weather conditions. Inclement weather, especially high winds, can affect the radar gun's returns.

Where is the Melbourne skyline? ›

Skyline Melbourne invites you to discover a hub of excitement and relaxation that's sure to captivate and offer fun for all ages. It's positioned in Polly Woodside Park, on the lawn area of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre by the Yarra River.

Where is the Melbourne Storm Stadium? ›

The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, referred to as AAMI Park due to a sponsorship arrangement, is an outdoor sports stadium situated on the grounds of Edwin Flack Field within the Sports and Entertainment Precinct in the heart of the Melbourne central business district.

Where is the Melbourne Air Show? ›

The Australian International Airshow, also called the Avalon Airshow, is a large air show held biennially at Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria.

Where is radar on the electromagnetic spectrum? ›

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Energy is emitted in various frequencies and wavelengths from large wavelength radio waves to shorter wavelength gamma rays. Radars emit microwave energy, a longer wavelength, highlighted in yellow.

References

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