Sydney rain radar: old BOM-style loop
Follow recent rain around Sydney with a classic radar loop centred on the CBD. Switch between 64, 128, 256 and 512 km view widths to compare showers over the harbour and western suburbs with the Illawarra, Central Coast and Blue Mountains. Sydney 7-day forecast.
Distance rings are measured from your selected location. Transparent areas may be dry or outside coverage. Colours are not a calibrated rainfall measurement.
Using the Sydney radar view
The 128 km view takes in the Sydney basin from the coast to the foot of the Blue Mountains. Storms that form over the ranges to the west often track east across the suburbs during warm afternoons, so a wider view helps you see what is building upstream before it reaches the city.
The rings measure distance from the Sydney CBD. They are not the range rings of the Terrey Hills or Kurnell radars, and the composite image is not a single station product.
Compare successive frames to see how echoes have moved. Playback shows what has already happened. The Next 4 hours panel under the map carries that movement forward as an estimate, then hands over to the forecast model.
Radars covering Sydney
Sydney is covered by three Bureau radars. The closest is Sydney (Terrey Hills), 19 km away. The loops listed for each radar are the official ranges that include the city centre; a radar's 64 km loop only helps if you are within 64 km of the radar itself.
| Radar | Where it is | Official loops that include Sydney | Site and what it sees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney (Terrey Hills) (IDR71) | 19 km north of Sydney | 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km | Terrey Hills, 18 km north of the Sydney CBD Meteor 1500 S-band Doppler On the Hornsby plateau 18 km north of the Sydney CBD, at 195 m. Clear views north, east and south; the Great Dividing Range slightly limits the view to the west. Sensitive enough to pick up drizzle and light showers. |
| Sydney (Kurnell) (IDR54) | Site details not published by the Bureau | All published ranges: 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km | – |
| Wollongong (Appin) (IDR03) | 54 km south-west of Sydney | 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km | Appin Road, Bulli, north-west of Wollongong DWSR 8502S 2° S-band On the Woronora plateau about 18 km north-north-west of Wollongong, at 449 m. Coverage to the north, east and south is largely clear; the ranges slightly reduce it to the north-west, west and south-west. |
Sites, types and siting notes paraphrased from the Bureau of Meteorology's radar information page; distances are from the Sydney city centre.
Official BOM radar loops for Sydney
The Bureau of Meteorology still publishes its classic radar loops on reg.bom.gov.au. These are the official station loops covering Sydney, at each range the Bureau offers:
- Sydney (Terrey Hills) (IDR71): 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km · Atmosphr page
- Sydney (Kurnell) (IDR54): 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km · Atmosphr page
- Wollongong (Appin) (IDR03): 64 km · 128 km · 256 km · 512 km · Atmosphr page
See every Bureau radar loop by state.
Looking for the old BOM radar?
Atmosphr offers a classic-style alternative with automatic playback and simple controls. It is independent of the Bureau of Meteorology. The image is a historical composite supplied through RainViewer, not a direct station-specific BOM product.
More near Sydney
Read the radar guide for help with timestamps, coverage and playback.