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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Australia Current Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
South Australia’s weather radar network, operated by the Bureau of Meteorology, gives you real-time rain and storm tracking across Adelaide and regional areas. The live radar above lets you spot approaching weather before it arrives.
Which radar is best for Adelaide and SA?
For Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Buckland Park radar (64 km range) provides the sharpest view of local showers and storms. The Woomera and Ceduna radars (both 128 km range) cover the state’s west and north, while the 512 km composite from Buckland Park gives the big-picture synoptic view across the Bight and inland. The live radar above defaults to the Buckland Park 64 km loop — ideal for checking if a southerly change is minutes or hours away.
How to read the SA radar as a cold front arrives
A classic South Australian weather pattern has rain or thunderstorms developing over the Spencer Gulf and moving east into Adelaide. On the live radar above, look for yellow and orange patches showing moderate to heavy rain (5–15 mm/h). A narrow band of red often signals a squall line. If you see a sharp, narrow line of rain moving eastward from the coast, a change is likely within 30–60 minutes for western suburbs and 1–2 hours further east. For Adelaide Weather updates, combine the radar with the hourly wind forecast.
What does ‘512 km’ mean on the Adelaide radar?
The 512 km range on the Buckland Park radar is the widest composite view, covering from the Eyre Peninsula across SA and into NSW. It’s useful for tracking large-scale rain bands and fronts a few hours out from arrival over Adelaide.
Why does SA sometimes have gaps in radar coverage?
South Australia’s radar network has good coverage around Adelaide, the Spencer Gulf and the south-east, but remote northern areas (Far North, Nullarbor) have significant gaps. For those regions, satellite imagery is often more reliable than radar for detecting rain.
Is the 64 km radar more accurate than the wider ones?
Yes. The 64 km range gives the finest detail — it can detect small showers and storm cells that the 128 km or 512 km composites blur out. For checking if rain is heading directly for your suburb, stick to the 64 km loop on the live radar above.