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NWS Radar

The US National Weather Service radar, unstyled and authoritative, with warning polygons drawn straight over the raw returns.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

NWS Radar sits in Weather Watching under Wander, filed as instant.

  • Just open it. It pays off within seconds, with nothing to read first.
  • Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something useful.

About this category: Wind maps, radar loops, satellite imagery and forecast models that look extraordinary regardless of whether you need to know about rain.

Good for

  • A five-second distraction
  • Getting something practical done
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Trying it with zero commitment

NWS Radar: quick answers

Is NWS Radar free?

Yes. NWS Radar is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use NWS Radar?

No. You can use NWS Radar without signing up for anything.

Does NWS Radar work on a phone?

Not well. We file NWS Radar as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.

Is NWS Radar safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does NWS Radar take?

We file it as "Instant": Good within five seconds of loading.

More in Weather Watching

All 14 in Weather Watching
  • Weather model charts for anywhere in the world, fast and free, of the sort forecasters look at rather than the tidied-up app version.

  • Rain radar for most of the world with a past-and-future loop, which answers the question of whether to leave now in about four seconds.

  • Raw model output laid out for people who want to read the charts themselves, and the page hurricane watchers keep open all August.

  • Weather models rendered beautifully enough to watch for their own sake, with layers for wind, rain, snow depth and wave height.

Same mood: useful

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