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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Coast Current Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Rainbow weather radar is a visualisation method that assigns a rainbow colour scale to precipitation intensity, making it easy to see where rain, storms or snow are falling on the live radar above. In Australia, it’s commonly used by forecasters and apps alongside the Bureau of Meteorology’s standard radar colour scheme.
What does rainbow weather radar show?
The rainbow scale maps light rain to greens and yellows, moderate rain to oranges, and heavy rain or hail to reds and purples. Snow typically appears as pale blues or whites. The advantage of the rainbow palette is its high contrast, which helps you quickly spot the strongest parts of a storm cell as it moves. For a local view, check the Melbourne weather or Sydney weather radar loops on Coast Current.
How does “256 rainbow radar” differ from “512 rainbow radar”?
The numbers refer to colour depth – 256-rainbow radar uses 256 colour levels, while 512-rainbow radar uses 512, giving finer gradations of intensity. In practice, a 512 rainbow radar loop today will show smoother transitions between light and heavy rain, but both are useful for identifying storm cores. Some Australian weather platforms offer rainbow radar 256 live updates, while others provide the 512 rainbow radar 256 australia version for higher detail.
What do the colours mean on rainbow weather radar?
Light rain or drizzle appears as greens and pale yellows, moderate rain as oranges, and heavy rain or hail as reds and purples. Snow and ice crystals show up as blues or whites. Always check a legend on the specific radar display.
Is rainbow weather radar available for all of Australia?
Most major cities have radar coverage, but remote areas may have gaps. The Bureau of Meteorology operates a national network, and third-party services often offer rainbow radar overlays for those regions. See the Australia weather hub for your area.
What is the difference between 256 and 512 rainbow radar?
256 rainbow radar uses 256 colour steps, while 512 uses 512 steps for smoother intensity gradients. The 512 version can reveal subtle differences in rainfall rate, but both are good for spotting the heaviest precipitation in a storm.