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MoreQuiet 6d · day 6

BOM overhauls rain radar with range rings, quick links after year of criticism

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology rolls out major updates to its maligned website's rain radar tool, restoring familiar features users lost in October's $96.5M redesign.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 6d ago5 pieces NewswiresRedditGoogle News

What to know

  • The BOM's October 2025 website redesign cost $96.5 million and faced immediate backlash over poor rain radar usability.
  • The September 16, 2026 update restores range rings and adds quick links, clickable icons, and improved rainfall detection—features users had missed.
  • Each radar now has a unique URL for bookmarking and sharing; the website remembers users' most recently selected radar.
  • Further updates are planned for later 2026, including changes to Aboriginal language place names and a new seven-day tropical cyclone forecast feature.

Stuart Minchin Bureau of Meteorology CEOBureau of Meteorology Australian government weather agency

BOM overhauls rain radar with range rings, quick links after year of criticism
glamadelaide.com.au

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Sep 17, 9 PM; 5 pieces over 6 days (3 articles · 1 post · 1 comment) Sep 17, 9 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Google News 2, Reddit 1, Newswires 1Sep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Reddit 1Sep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quiet 1
Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:56 AM ET
  1. 1

    ABC News reports rain radar overhaul with range rings and improved display

    The ABC reports that the BOM has completed major updates to the rain radar, including the addition of radar range rings that provide visual measurement guides to show how far rainfall is from familiar landmarks, along with higher definition rainfall detection and more accurate display when data from overlapping radars is used.

    “We know how much value the community places on their local rain radar. We've listened to feedback and made these updates to help you get to your local radar faster and estimate how far away rain is.”
    — Stuart Minchin, Bureau of Meteorology CEO · source
    1. 2 outlets The BOM revamps rain radar on maligned new website - ABC News & Headlines

      first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 6d ago · also ABC Australia

      1 more headline

    • Well there is a $96.5 Million budget not well spent by yet another a government agency!

      More_Law6245r/australia6d agoview on r/australia ↗
  2. background

    Bureau of Meteorology releases major rain radar update with restored features — The BOM rolls out significant upgrades to its rain radar on September 16, 2026, adding radar locations, range rings, quick links, clickable radar icons, and improvements to rainfall display. Each radar now has its own unique URL for bookmarking and sharing. The changes were developed in response to community feedback.

  3. background

    BOM makes incremental updates to website throughout 2026 — In June 2026, the Bureau makes updates to quicken access to Doppler wind and estimated rainfall images and adds hundreds more place names to its maps.

  4. background

    Bureau of Meteorology launches redesigned website during wild weather — The BOM launches its new website in October 2025. The redesign faces immediate criticism for the rain radar's look and usability, forcing the bureau to quickly change the colour scheme. The $96.5 million cost of the overhaul later becomes a point of public scrutiny.