Nobody actually prefers to cycle in the rain, although, living in the UK, it’s pretty much inevitable that sooner or later you’ll be caught in the rain.
But, ever had a bike ride where it started raining as soon as you set off, and stopped as soon as your ride ended? You stand a FAR better chance of avoiding that in future, simply by looking at the rain radar map below, before setting off! The map can also show wind speed and direction, though that works best if zoomed in to a local area.
For answers to more technical questions, the the FAQ section below the map.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Radar is quite accurate for typical British rain. For light drizzle (common in UK), you might not see it on radar (and therefore, also not on this map) even though you’ll feel it on your ride!
Where is the data from?
The WillCycle Rain Radar map displays data collated from Rainviewer. That data is collected from various different radar scans. Do note that the accuracy varies: in urban areas, the rain radar resolution is higher, while in rural settings, it is lower. Also, Radar is impacted by the environment, and mountains, or even some buildings, can affect the accuracy.
Color scheme
The rainfall overlay uses a color-coded intensity scale:
- Light Blue: Very light rain (<1 mm/h)
- Blue: Light rain (1-2 mm/h)
- Green: Moderate rain (2-5 mm/h)
- Yellow: Heavy rain (5-10 mm/h)
- Orange: Very heavy rain (10-20 mm/h)
- Red: Intense rain (20-50 mm/h)
- Purple/Magenta: Extreme rain (>50 mm/h)
For Cyclists:
- Light blue/blue: Rideable with light rain jacket
- Green: Proper rain gear recommended
- Yellow/orange: Expect to get wet, postpone if possible
- Red/purple: Don’t ride unless necessary
Update frequency
Update Interval: The data updates every 5-10 minutes
Data Delay: 2-15 minutes behind real-time
The exact timing depends on:
- Source radar: Different weather agencies update at different rates
- Processing time: ~1-2 minutes for RainViewer to process new data
- Network latency: Additional 1-2 minutes for data propagation
The wind data is from Open-Meteo, and updates hourly.
How close to real-time is the data on the map?
Best case: 2-5 minutes delay
Typical: 5-10 minutes delay
Maximum: Up to 15 minutes delay
For example, if rain started at 14:00, the radar might only detect it at 14:05. By 14:06, the data processing should be done, meaning the map above should update by around 14:07. However, at times, that delay could be longer, and that’s outside of my control.
And remember…
If this rain radar map was of use to you, it will be of use to others, too. Don’t keep it secret! Share it with everyone, on social media, in Facebook Groups, on chat forums, and elsewhere.