How to read the rain radar
The rain radar shows where it is raining right now and how it is moving. It is one of the best tools for knowing whether a storm will reach you within the next hour. This guide explains how to read it. It is general information, not an official warning.
What it shows
A radar sends out waves that bounce off raindrops, hail or snow and measures how much comes back. From that, a map is built of where there is precipitation and how intense it is. It is an observation of what is already happening, not a forecast.
What the colors mean
- Cool colors (blues and greens) mean light precipitation, such as drizzle or gentle rain.
- Yellows and oranges mean moderate to heavy rain.
- Reds and purples mean very intense precipitation, which can include hail.
- The exact scale may vary by source; use the colors as a guide to relative intensity.
How to tell whether it will reach you
- Watch the animation of the last hours: it shows which way the rain cells are moving.
- If an area of rain is moving toward your location, estimate its distance and speed to work out when it could arrive.
- Storms can grow, shrink or change course, so check the radar again now and then.
Its limits
- It does not cover the whole territory: some areas have no radar or only partial coverage, and mountains can block the signal.
- It can show rain that evaporates before reaching the ground, or miss very light rain.
- It is a picture of the recent past: to look further ahead, check the hourly forecast.
- For severe storms, official warnings are issued by the SMN (smn.gob.ar/alertas).
Where to see it on this site
Each city has a Radar tab with the last two hours animated over the map. The maps and radar images are requested by your browser directly from OpenStreetMap and RainViewer, as explained in the privacy policy.
General, educational information: it does not replace professional advice or official warnings.