Rain Viewer
Real-time global precipitation radar map.
Open the official app on www.rainviewer.com
This tool is hosted by its maintainers. Click below to open www.rainviewer.com in a new tab — it's their official demo.
Browse weather tools →What's next with Rain Viewer?
Choose how you want to get started.
Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Rain Viewer?
Rain Viewer is an open-source web tool designed to provide hyperlocal rainfall and snowfall forecasts using high-resolution weather radar data. Its primary purpose is to help users avoid disruptions caused by sudden rain events by offering detailed, real-time insights into precipitation patterns. The tool is used by outdoor enthusiasts, event planners, farmers, and commuters who need precise weather information to make informed decisions. It solves the problem of inaccurate or delayed weather forecasts by aggregating data from 1200+ radar stations across 80+ countries, delivering 100m radar resolution updates every 2 minutes. This level of detail allows users to identify small rain bursts or dry spots that typical weather apps miss, enabling proactive planning for activities ranging from hiking to construction projects.
How it works
Rain Viewer is a leading open-source weather radar application that delivers precise rain and snow forecasts by integrating data from global radar networks. It enables users to visualize precipitation patterns with 100m resolution, offering insights into localized weather conditions that impact daily activities. The tool's purpose is to provide actionable weather intelligence by combining high-frequency radar updates (every 2 minutes) with detailed spatial analysis. This helps users navigate weather risks, such as sudden downpours or snow accumulation, by highlighting areas with varying rainfall intensity. Rain Viewer's core capabilities include 100m radar resolution, which captures minute variations in precipitation, and 2-minute update intervals for near-real-time data. Premium users access features like 1-hour rainfall totals and nowcast projections, built from raw radar data without smoothing or averaging. The tool also generates global composite radar images by aggregating data from multiple networks, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
How to use it
- 1Open the Rain Viewer web interface and select a region from the map. 2. Tap a specific location to view radar data for that area. 3. Use the time slider to analyze rainfall trends over the past 2 minutes or forecasted nowcast. 4. Enable premium features (if subscribed) to access rainfall totals and enhanced resolution layers. Practical tips include zooming to 100m scale for detailed analysis, checking update timestamps for data freshness, and using the 'tap to measure' function for precise spot readings. Premium users should configure 2-minute delivery settings for regions with frequent radar updates.
What it can do
- radar map
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://www.rainviewer.com/
- license: Open source
- privacy: Opens an external demo
Limitations
- Limited coverage in remote regions without radar infrastructure
- Dependence on third-party radar networks for data aggregation
- Potential latency in areas with infrequent radar updates
- No historical data access beyond current radar recordings
- Requires internet connectivity for real-time data retrieval
Understanding the result
Real-time global precipitation radar map.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by (MIT).
- Built with
- (https://www.rainviewer.com/)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Query
- Output
- Text
Built with https://www.rainviewer.com/. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- / — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
Frequently asked
What weather data sources does Rain Viewer use?
Rain Viewer aggregates radar data from 1200+ weather radar stations across 80+ countries, including networks like NOAA, Environment Canada, and the European Weather Radar Network. These sources provide raw precipitation measurements, which the tool processes into high-resolution visualizations without altering the original data.
How does Rain Viewer handle radar data from different regions?
The tool generates a global composite radar image by aligning data from disparate radar networks, accounting for varying coordinate systems and update frequencies. For regions with frequent updates (e.g., North America), 2-minute data delivery is available, while standard 5-minute intervals apply where radar networks update less frequently.
How do I check total rainfall for a specific location?
Premium users can tap any map location to access the rainfall totals layer, which displays 1-hour, 3-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour accumulations. This data is derived directly from radar measurements, not predictive models, and updates automatically as new radar data becomes available.
How does Rain Viewer compare to commercial weather services?
Unlike commercial apps that often smooth radar data for visual appeal, Rain Viewer preserves original 100m resolution, revealing subtle precipitation patterns. It also offers free access to premium features like nowcast projections, whereas services like Weather.com or AccuWeather typically charge for similar capabilities.
What should I do if radar data is missing for my area?
First, verify that your location is covered by at least one radar network in the 80+ countries supported. If data persists as missing, check for temporary outages in your region's radar infrastructure. As a workaround, use the 'tap to measure' function to identify nearby areas with available data for comparative analysis.