This radar sequence is produced from the UK Composite Rainfall Radar dataset, jointly operated by the Met Office, Met Éireann, and Jersey Met, and distributed through the Met Office UK Radar Open Data service on the AWS Open Data Registry. The dataset provides nationwide precipitation scans every 15 minutes, and each frame is typically published around 15 minutes after it was captured and this viewer turns the frames into a clear, consistent timeline.

Radar works by sending out pulses of energy and measuring how much is reflected back by raindrops, hail, or snow. Stronger reflections appear as brighter colours, indicating heavier precipitation. Areas with no shading are generally dry, although very light drizzle or shallow cloud layers can sometimes go undetected.

Local Considerations
Radar coverage over South Devon is generally excellent, but hills on Dartmoor and the South Hams can occasionally create small shadows or reduced returns. Offshore, sea clutter may appear during certain atmospheric conditions.

Update Frequency
This page typically refreshes with new radar data 15 minutes after each 15-minute scan, so updates usually appear shortly after 00, 15, 30, and 45 minutes past the hour.

Dartmoor 365 Grid Squares
The map also includes the Dartmoor 365 grid — a set of one-mile squares inspired by John Hayward’s Dartmoor 365, which divided the National Park into 365 individual square miles, each with its own point of interest. The grid provides a simple, consistent way to relate weather conditions to specific parts of the moor, from high tors and open commons to wooded valleys and riverside paths. You can learn more about the project at dartmoor365.org.