Home › Weather › Weather Radar Townsville
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Aussie Brief Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Check the live radar above to see rain moving across Townsville. The Bureau of Meteorology’s radar at Herveys Range covers a 128-kilometre radius, updating every 10 minutes. Use the 512-loop view to track approaching storms and showers over the next hour or two.
How do I read the Townsville radar?
The radar measures rainfall intensity using colours. Light blue and green show drizzle or light rain; yellow and orange indicate moderate to heavy rain; red and pink point to very heavy rain or hail. The 512-loop repeats automatically so you can watch how bands of rain move – useful for deciding when to head out or delay travel. For a full Australia weather hub, check our main page.
Where does the radar cover?
Centred near Herveys Range, the radar covers Townsville city, Magnetic Island, Ingham to the north, Ayr to the south, and inland to Charters Towers. Sea clutter may appear near the coast, but the BOM filters most of it. If you see a gap in the image, the radar may be offline for maintenance – check the BOM site for status. For nearby capitals, see Brisbane Weather.
How often does the BOM radar in Townsville update?
Every 10 minutes a new image is added to the loop. The 512-loop stores the latest 512 frames, giving you about 85 hours of history. For the most current conditions, combine the radar with the Townsville weather forecast 7 days.
Why does the radar sometimes show nothing?
If the image is blank or grey, the radar may be down for maintenance or suffers interference. Heavy local rain can also temporarily block the beam. Try the elders weather radar townsville perspective for a second view, or use the live radar townsville loop on this page.
Can I use the radar to predict rain for a specific beach or suburb?
Yes – watch how echoes move from west to east across Magnetic Island or along the coast. The bom radar townsville 512 loop helps you judge arrival time. For a longer outlook, check the weather radar townsville 7 days forecast using synoptic charts on BOM.