Home › Weather › Victorian Weather Radar
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Southern Monitor Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
The Victorian weather radar network, run by the Bureau of Meteorology, gives you a real-time picture of rain, hail and storms moving across the state. The live radar above shows the latest scan, helping you track approaching weather for the next hour or so.
Which radar sites cover Victoria?
Victoria has six main BOM radar sites: Melbourne (Laverton), Yarrawonga, Mount Gambier (SA, covers western Victoria), Ballarat, Mildura and a new radar at Mallee. Each site provides a 512 radar loop that updates every six to ten minutes. For a wider view, the weather radar Australia composite stitches all sites together.
How do I read the Victorian radar?
Colours on the radar indicate rainfall intensity. Light blue or green means drizzle or light rain. Yellow and orange point to moderate to heavy rain. Red and purple signal very heavy rain, often with thunderstorms. The victorian weather radar loop shows movement, so you can see if rain is heading your way.
How does the radar help with Melbourne weather?
If you are checking the melbourne weather 7 day forecast, the radar gives you the immediate picture. For melbourne weather hourly details, combine the radar with BOM’s text forecasts. The bom radar victoria page is the official source, but the live radar above is the same data. For severe storms, also check the Severe Weather Warning page.
How far ahead can the radar predict rain?
Radar shows rain that is already falling or very close. It is reliable for the next 30–60 minutes. Beyond that, use the melbourne weather 7 day forecast for broader trends.
Why does the radar sometimes go offline?
Radars undergo routine maintenance or may be affected by extreme weather. During outages, the bom radar australia composite still works, but local detail may be delayed.
What does the 512 radar mean?
512 refers to the image resolution. A 512 radar gives a clear, detailed picture of rain bands and storm cells. It is the standard setting on most BOM radar pages.