Is it raining now in Coleraine?
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Last updated: 20:00, 5 Oct 2026
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Rain in Coleraine: What You Need to Know
Coleraine stands on the River Bann close to where it meets the Atlantic near Portstewart and Portrush, with the Ulster University campus on one bank and the Bann's tidal stretch running through the town centre toward the north Antrim coast. A Coleraine rain radar cuts through that uncertainty, since hyperlocal radar tracks each shower block by block rather than guessing for the whole area.
Because Northern Ireland faces the Atlantic directly, incoming fronts strike land here before reaching anywhere else in the UK. Three ranges, the Sperrins, the Mournes and the Antrim Hills, push that moist air upward, and rainfall climbs on the slopes facing the wind. Meanwhile Belfast Lough and Lough Foyle feed extra moisture into the system and channel the wind along their valleys. Weather off the Atlantic reaches Coleraine with almost nothing to slow it, so a front can cross the north coast and be over the town within the hour, while the Bann can rise after rain further up its catchment even once the sky over Coleraine has cleared.
Over Coleraine, Northern Ireland, RainViewer's radar map runs on live Met Office data, with each scan landing on the map within minutes. The live map shows whether a shower is still out over the coast at Portrush or already crossing the Bann, which a forecast for Coleraine cannot tell you.
Rain by Season in Coleraine
Autumn and winter frontal season (September to January)
Between September and January, named storms and repeated fronts bring rain and strong wind in close succession. Rivers and loughs climb as the ground stays saturated for weeks. Coastal roads, ferry routes and low-lying streets are usually the first places affected. Atlantic fronts reach the north coast first, and the Bann rises fastest through this stretch of the year.
Transition months (February to April)
Squalls come in off the Atlantic in quick succession, and a day on the coast at Portrush is the plan most often caught out. February to April brings the least predictable weather of the year, as showers, hail and sleet trade places without much warning. The cells involved are small and fast-moving, which limits how far ahead forecasts can see. Hill walkers and spring sports fixtures face the greatest exposure to this.
Summer season (May to August)
Rain is lighter, but showers still cross from the Atlantic, and riverside walks along the Bann depend on the gaps between them. Rain is less frequent, but Atlantic showers still cross the province, and thunderstorms can form inland on warm afternoons. Festivals, coastal drives and outdoor events depend on short dry gaps.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in Coleraine
Students and staff at Ulster University
The Coleraine campus sits close to the Bann with open walkways between buildings. Check the radar before crossing campus in a downpour.
Portrush and Portstewart beach visitors
The beaches a short drive from Coleraine catch Atlantic showers first, and a clear morning can turn wet by lunchtime. Watch the cell approach before setting off for the coast.
Anglers on the River Bann
The Bann is a well known salmon river, and anglers on its banks are fully exposed to a passing shower. Time the session to the gap between bands.
Commuters on the A26 and A29
The A26 towards Ballymena and the A29 towards Coleraine town centre slow in heavy rain. Check the radar first and decide whether it is worth leaving now.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in Coleraine
RainViewer shows UK precipitation using data from the Met Office, the national weather service, which runs a network of C-band dual-polarization weather radars. The Met Office network also feeds the European OPERA composite, and the RainViewer map refreshes with each new scan, about every 5 minutes. From Coleraine the map also covers Portrush, Portstewart and Ballymoney.
Coleraine Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- How does rain affect a day on the coast near Coleraine?
Portrush and Portstewart, a short drive from Coleraine, catch Atlantic showers first, and a beach day that starts dry can turn wet within the hour once a band reaches the coast. Visitors heading out from the town watch the radar before they leave. RainViewer shows the shower crossing the coast ahead of the Bann valley.
- Does rain affect the A26 near Coleraine?
Yes, the A26 between Coleraine and Ballymena slows in heavy rain, and spray builds where the road climbs away from the Bann valley. Check the map before you set off. A quick check shows whether the cell is still approaching or already past.
- Does Coleraine flood when it rains?
Yes, the River Bann can rise through Coleraine after heavy rain further up its catchment, and the low ground beside the river is the first to be affected. The tidal stretch near the town centre is most exposed when a high tide meets a flooded river. The radar shows whether the catchment upstream is still getting rain.
- When is the best time to visit Coleraine to avoid rain?
May to September is the best window to visit Coleraine, with the Bann riverside and the north Antrim coast at their best. Atlantic showers can still reach the coast at any time of year. Check the radar in the morning and plan the outdoor part of the day.
- Why can it rain on the Bann riverside while the university campus stays dry around Coleraine?
The Bann can rise from rain that fell well upstream even once the sky over Coleraine has cleared, so the riverside can be wet while the campus on higher ground stays dry. A forecast covers both places with one number, while the radar map shows the rain crossing the Bann riverside and missing the university campus.
- How accurate is the Coleraine rain radar?
The Coleraine rain radar is as accurate as the Met Office scans behind it, which RainViewer refreshes about every 5 minutes. Radar coverage over Northern Ireland comes from the Met Office network, using dual-polarization to tell rain apart from hail and sleet as it falls across the hills and coasts. Hyperlocal radar shows the actual edge of each shower rather than a probability for the whole town.
- What can I do with RainViewer in Coleraine beyond checking current rain?
Set a rain alert on the Bann riverside or Portrush and RainViewer warns you before rain arrives. That lets you time a walk or a drive to the coast. The 2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices shows the next gap, and saved locations track the university campus and Portstewart.
Track Rain in Coleraine in Real Time
A visit to the River Bann and a day on the coast at Portrush both depend on a dry gap, and RainViewer shows the next one.
Local rain around Coleraine can build quickly, and checking the radar first shows what is on the way.
Your forecast for Coleraine says rain this afternoon. RainViewer's live hyperlocal radar shows the cell still out over the coast at Portrush with the Bann in Coleraine still dry, which decides when the drive to the beach starts.
Track rain in Coleraine — free Upgrade to Essential for alerts, forecasts, and full radar history
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
The 5-minute steps show whether the walk along the Bann fits inside the dry gap.
Rain alerts before arrival
Set the alert at Portrush, and the warning arrives in time to decide whether to set off for the coast or wait for the band to pass.
Direction arrows on the map
Storms usually arrive from the west and south-west, off the Atlantic over Coleraine, and the arrows show which way each cell is moving.
48 hours of radar history
Check the Bann catchment in the last 48 hours to see how much rain came down.
Multiple locations
Keep the Bann riverside, Portrush and the university campus on the same list, each with its own alert.
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