Australia's weather radars
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The majority of Australia's weather radars are operated by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), an executive agency of the Australian Government. The radar network is continually being upgraded with new technology such as doppler and dual polarisation to provide better now-casting. Doppler weather radars are able to detect the movement of precipitation, making it very useful in detecting damaging winds associated with precipitation,[1] and determining if a thunderstorm has a rotating updraft, a key indicator of the presence of the most dangerous type of thunderstorm, a supercell.[2][3][4]
Country oforiginAustralia
ManufacturerVarious
No. built69
Typenon Doppler, Doppler and dual polarisation
Radar sites of the BoM network, and indicative radar coverage in 2025. Inner radius (100 km) indicates generally reliable coverage. Outer radius (200 km) indicates general limit of potentially useful coverage. Beyond 200km, coverage is generally unreliable due to earth curvature but may occasionally be useful in larger weather systems such as tropical cyclones. Note: Does not show coverage degradation from obstructions. | |
| Country of origin | Australia |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Various |
| No. built | 69 |
| Type | non Doppler, Doppler and dual polarisation |
| Frequency | C and S bands |
The new dual polarisation radars give forecasters the ability to:
- detect debris in the atmosphere, leading to more accurate tornado warnings;[5]
- distinguish between different precipitation types, leading to better estimations of hail size and severity;[5]
- better identify areas of heavy rainfall, leading to more accurate flood warnings;[6] and
- discern between precipitation and non-meteorological echoes such as chaff, birds, and insects.[5]
The dual polarisation transition
The transition to polarimetric (dual-polarised) radars began in 2017 with the upgrade of 4 Meteor 1500 radars located in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney.[7] The network has further been enhanced through the installation of 8 new polarimetric Meteor 735 radars across WA,[8] NSW[9] & Victoria,[10] and two polarimetric WRM200 radars[11] manufactured by Vaisala, one to replace the radar in Dampier, WA which had been destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Damien in 2020, and one to replace an ageing radar near Gove in the Northern Territory. Nine new Meteor 1700s were also installed between 2021 and 2024, 7 located in Qld,[12] and 2 in WA,[8] all equipped with dual polarisation technology. All the radars with the model name 'Meteor' were manufactured by Selex ES, now Leonardo.
Specifications are available for the Meteor 735, Meteor 1700, and the Vaisala WRM200.
Future radar network upgrades
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory is served by the Captains Flat radar, located in New South Wales.
New South Wales
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewarrina | 29°58′14.8″S 146°48′48.7″E | 149 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C |  Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed 2020[21] |
| Canberra (Captains Flat) | 35°39′41.2″S 149°30′44.1″E | 1383 | DWSR74S14-13 | 2 | 250 | S | Yes |
 No |
Yes |
Upgraded 2013[22] |
| Grafton | 29°37′14.3″S 152°57′48″E | 40 | WSR74S-14 | 2 | 500 | S | No |
No |
No |
To Be Upgraded to a Dual-Polarising Radar within 5-10 years[19] |
| Hillston | 33°33′7.9″S 145°31′43″E | 144 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed Aug 2021[23] |
| Moree | 29°29′24.9″S 149°50′46.3″E | 220 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | No |
No |
No |
|
| Namoi (Blackjack Mountain) | 31°1′27.2″S 150°11′31″E | 699 | DWSR8502S-14 | 2 | 250 | S | Yes |
No |
No |
|
| Newcastle | 32°43′47.2″S 152°1′31.5″E | 84 | DWSR74S14-13 | 2 | 250 | S | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded Jun 2013[24] |
| Norfolk Island | 29°2′17.6″S 167°56′28.9″E | ~120 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
The data from this radar is not in the national radar archive and therefore its metadata is inaccessible. | |
| Sydney (Terrey Hills) | 33°42′3″S 151°12′33.9″E | 195 | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes[7] |
Yes |
Upgraded 2017[25] |
| Wagga Wagga | 35°9′29.3″S 147°27′22.7″E | 221 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | No |
No |
No |
|
| Wollongong (Appin) | 34°15′44.4″S 150°52′30.4″E | 449 | DWSR8502S-14 | 2 | 250 | S | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded 2013 |
| Yeoval | 32°44′40.1″S 148°42′29.1″E | 487 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed May 2022[26]
The radar suffers moderate beam obstruction between approximately 70° and 130° due to an area of elevated terrain, meaning there is an underestimation of rain intensity in the lowest radar tilt between the same bearings. |
| Kurnell | 34°0′53.1″S 151°13′34.4″E | 64 | WSR81C-12 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
No |
N/a | Decommissioned
Archived radar data is uploaded here |
Northern Territory
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs | 23°47′42.2″S 133°53′20.1″E | 545 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | No |
No |
No |
|
| Darwin (Berrimah) | 12°27′21.2″S 130°55′35.6″E | 51 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded Sep 2022[29] |
| Darwin Airport | 12°25′28.6″S 130°53′31.5″E | 38 | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | 250 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded 2022[30] |
| Gove | 12°16′8.1″S 136°49′13.2″E | 61 | WRM 200 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Upgraded 2023[31] |
| Katherine (Tindal) | 14°30′44.5″S 132°26′35.3″E | 131 | WSR81C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | No |
No |
No |
|
| Warruwi | 11°38′54.5″S 133°22′47.9″E | 43 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Installed Dec 2012[32] |
Queensland
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen | 19°53′8.7″S 148°4′32.4″E | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | No |
No |
No |
||
| Brisbane Airport | 27°23′29.5″S 153°7′47.9″E | MeteoPress C | 1.7 | 250 | C | Yes[34] |
Yes |
No |
Decommissioned | |
| Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) | 27°43′3.8″S 153°14′24″E | 150 | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes [7] |
Yes |
Upgraded Sep 2017[35] |
| Cairns | 16°49′5.4″S 145°39′46.9″E | 652 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded Aug 2023.[36] |
| Emerald | 23°32′58.4″S 148°14′21″E | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Yes |
No |
No |
|||
| Gladstone | 23°51′18.4″S 151°15′45″E | WSR-74 | 2 | S | No |
No |
No |
|||
| Greenvale | 18°59′51.5″S 144°59′45.1″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed Dec 2021[37] | |
| Gympie (Mt Kanigan) | 25°57′26.4″S 152°34′36.9″E | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Yes |
No |
Yes |
|||
| Longreach | 23°26′23.2″S 144°16′56.1″E | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
|||
| Mackay | 21°7′2.1″S 149°13′2.2″E | 42 | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Upgraded Dec 2023.[38] |
| Marburg | 27°36′22.6″S 152°32′24.3″E | 370 | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
No |
In November 2023, a new radar replaced an ageing WSR-74.[39] The radar suffers beam blockage on the tilts 0.6° and 0.83° to the W and SW of the radar, leading to an under-representation of reflectivity values between those bearings. |
| Mornington Island | 16°39′50.8″S 139°10′52.4″E | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
|||
| Mount Isa | 20°42′40.3″S 139°33′19″E | 523 | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Installed Nov 2012[40] | |
| Richmond | 20°45′6.3″S 143°8′29.2″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes[41] |
Yes |
Installed Sep 2022[42] | |
| Taroom | 25°41′46.2″S 149°53′53.4″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes[43] |
Yes |
Installed Apr 2022[44] | |
| Toowoomba | 27°16′27.1″S 151°59′35.2″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Installed Apr 2024[45] | |
| Townsville (Hervey Range) | 19°25′11.2″S 146°33′3.4″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Upgraded Nov 2024[46] | |
| Warrego | 26°26′24.6″S 147°20′56.8″E | TVDR 2500 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
|||
| Weipa | 12°39′59.1″S 141°55′28.7″E | 44 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded Aug 2015[47] | |
| Willis Island | 16°17′14.7″S 149°57′52.5″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded Nov 2022[48] |
South Australia
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide (Buckland Park) | 34°37′1.2″S 138°28′7.5″E | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes[7] |
Yes |
Upgraded 2017 | |
| Adelaide (Sellicks Hill) | 35°19′46.3″S 138°30′9″E | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
Yes |
|||
| Ceduna | 32°7′47.4″S 133°41′46.9″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded May 2021[51] | ||
| Mt Gambier | 37°44′51.7″S 140°46′28.6″E | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
|||
| Woomera | 31°9′20.9″S 136°48′15.8″E | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | No |
No |
No |
Tasmania
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart (Mt Koonya) | 43°6′45.4″S 147°48′18.8″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded Nov 2022[54] | ||
| Hobart Airport | 42°50′14.5″S 147°30′3.1″E | WF 100C-6 | 2 | C | No |
No |
No |
|||
| N.W. Tasmania (West Takone) | 41°10′45″S 145°34′47.9″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded Apr 2016[55] |
Victoria
| Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bairnsdale | 37°53′15.1″S 147°34′31.8″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
|||
| Melbourne | 37°51′18.8″S 144°45′19.5″E | Meteor 1500 | 1 | S | Yes |
Yes[7] |
Yes |
Upgraded 2017 | ||
| Melbourne (Broadmeadows) | 37°41′23.5″S 144°56′50″E | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
|||
| Mildura | 34°17′13.6″S 141°35′53.5″E | Meteor 735 | 1 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed near Cullulleraine 2020 | ||
| Rainbow | 35°59′51.2″S 142°0′47.9″E | Meteor 735 | 1 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Installed Mar 2020[57] | ||
| Yarrawonga | 36°1′46.7″S 146°1′21.9″E | WSR 81C | 1 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Western Australia
| Name | Location | Elevation
(metres) |
Model Name | Beamwidth
(degrees) |
Range
Resolution (metres) |
IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 34°56′30.5″S 117°48′58.9″E | Meteor 735 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Upgraded 2019 | |||
| Broome | 17°56′53.7″S 122°14′7.2″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
||||
| Carnarvon | 24°53′16.7″S 113°40′9.7″E | Wurrung 2502 | 1.6 | C | Yes |
No |
No |
Upgraded 2024[59] | ||
| Dampier | 20°39′12.7″S 116°40′59.8″E | WRM 200 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes[60][11] |
Yes |
||
| Esperance | 33°49′48.5″S 121°53′30.2″E | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Upgraded Feb 2020[61] | |
| Geraldton | 28°48′16.8″S 114°41′50.4″E | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Upgraded 2019 | |
| Giles | 25°1′59.6″S 128°18′6.2″E | WF 100C-6 | C | No |
No |
No |
||||
| Halls Creek | 18°13′44.1″S 127°39′46.1″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | No |
No |
No |
Upgraded 2022[62] | |||
| Kalgoorlie | 30°47′3.2″S 121°27′17.4″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Upgraded 2021[63] | |||
| Karratha | 20°59′29.3″S 116°52′33″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Installed Oct 2024[64] | |
| Learmonth | 22°6′11.4″S 113°59′58.7″E | TVDR 2500 | C | No |
No |
No |
||||
| Newdegate | 33°5′49″S 119°0′31.6″E | Wurrung 2500C | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Installed Oct 2016[65] | |||
| Perth (Serpentine) | 32°23′30.3″S 115°52′1″E | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Upgraded Nov 2022[66] | |
| Perth Airport | 31°55′38.2″S 115°58′32″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | No |
No |
No |
||||
| Port Hedland | 20°22′18.7″S 118°37′54″E | TVDR 2500 | C | No |
No |
No |
||||
| South Doodlakine | 31°46′40″S 117°57′10″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Installed Feb 2017[67] | |||
| Watheroo | 30°21′36.7″S 116°17′22.9″E | Wurrung 2502C | C | Yes |
No |
Yes |
Installed Jun 2017[68] | |||
| Wyndham | 15°27′6.1″S 128°7′15″E | WF 100C-8 | C | No |
No |
No |
||||
Research Radars
Note:
- Whilst the BoM may/may not own these radars, they are often involved with the radars for research applications.
| Name | Location | Elevation | Operational status | Radar model | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPOL | 12.245°S 131.045°E | 50m | Inactive (6/12/1998 - 2/5/2017) | N/A | C | Yes |
Yes |
The data which CPOL has collected is used to study the microphysical and dynamic properties of thunderstorm convection in Darwin, Australia, enabling the improvement of atmospheric models' representations of the convection formed during the pre-monsoon buildup and active monsoon.[70][71] |
| CP2 | 27.6689°S 152.8627°E | 185.5m | Inactive (1/11/2007 - 1/6/2015) | N/A | S & X | Yes |
Yes |
The CP2 Research radar was a 1970's era radar, which the BoM received as a gift from the NCAR in the United States. The BoM retrofitted it with modern parts which gave it the unique ability to collect data at two frequencies, S and X band. The upgrades also provided state of the art dual polarisation and doppler technologies. The CP in its title stands for cloud physics, and the radar has been used to research thunderstorms, drive improvements in rainfall measurements and hail detection and explore the potential for cloud seeding.[72] |
| Ocean Pol | N/A (Mobile radar) | 22m | Active (22/3/2015-) | N/A | C | Yes |
Yes |
This research radar is installed on the RV Investigator, an ocean research vessel. The radar collects data on research voyages, including trips to Antarctic waters, Heard Island and circumnavigations of Australia.[73] |
| UQXPOL[74] | N/A (Mobile radar) | N/A | Active (14/10/2014-) | Furuno WR-2100 | X | Yes |
Yes |
This research radar is operated by the University of Queensland and has been involved with research to improve hail detection and hail size prediction algorithms,[75] and also with research into bushfires and pyroconvection as part of a $1 million google.org philanthropic venture.[76][77] |
| Monash University x-band | N/A (Mobile radar) | N/A | Active | Meteor 60DX | X | Yes |
Yes |