Is it raining now in Bishops Cleeve?
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Last update: 21:00, 5 Oct 2026
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Rain in Bishops Cleeve: What You Need to Know
Bishops Cleeve sits at the foot of Cleeve Hill, the highest point of the Cotswolds, just north of Cheltenham. The scarp rises steeply behind the village, and showers that build on the hill can leave the streets below dry for a while longer before the band reaches them. Checking a Bishops Cleeve rain radar removes the guesswork, since hyperlocal radar shows the exact streets a shower is crossing right now.
Cleeve Hill lifts approaching showers straight off the vale, so the common on top of the scarp often gets rain first while the village at its foot waits a few more minutes. Westerly frontal rain reaches the West of England after crossing the Bristol Channel, then lifts over the Mendip Hills and the Cotswold escarpment. Orographic lift over that high ground wrings extra rain from a band that arrives light on the coast, and the windward slopes get more than the lower ground in the lee.
For anyone in Bishops Cleeve, England, RainViewer shows Met Office radar data live, refreshed with every new scan roughly every 5 minutes. The live map shows whether a shower has already climbed Cleeve Hill or is still crossing the vale towards the village.
Rain by Season in Bishops Cleeve
Autumn and winter frontal season (September to January)
Autumn and winter fronts pile up against the Cotswold scarp above the village, and the lanes below Cleeve Hill run with water off the slope. Atlantic depressions follow one another across the region from September, when the Met Office starts naming storms. Low ground gets steady frontal rain, while the Mendips and Cotswolds take the heavier totals. River levels and hill roads shift fastest in these months.
Transition months (February to April)
As fronts weaken, showers move in and can turn a dry morning into an afternoon of hail and sun. Because each shower is small and quick, forecasts are at their least reliable, and plans on high ground face the greatest exposure. Cold showers cross the vale in spring, and walks on Cleeve Common and cricket at the village ground are the plans most often cut short.
Summer showers (May to August)
Rain becomes less frequent but heavier in short bursts, and thunderstorms can form over warm ground in the afternoon. Most people plan around the sun and check the radar when cloud builds, which is when the map shows a storm cell's track. Summer storms build over the warm vale, and the common and the village green depend on gaps between showers.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in Bishops Cleeve
Walkers and golfers on Cleeve Common
Cleeve Common, on top of the scarp, is fully exposed and catches showers before the village does. Watch the cell climb the hill on the radar and decide whether to start the walk or wait.
Cricket at Bishops Cleeve Cricket Club
Matches at the village cricket ground are stopped by rain, and covers go on while players and spectators watch the sky. Checking the radar shows whether the break will be short.
Commuters into Cheltenham and Gloucester
The B4632 and the lanes into Cheltenham slow in heavy rain, and standing water gathers at the low points below the scarp. Check the radar first and decide whether it is worth leaving now.
Shoppers around the village centre
The shops and cafes around Church Road and the village green have little shelter between them. See whether the shower will pass before crossing to the next row.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in Bishops Cleeve
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 Bishops Cleeve the map also covers Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury.
Bishops Cleeve Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- How does rain affect walking on Cleeve Common?
Cleeve Common sits fully exposed on top of the Cotswold scarp above Bishops Cleeve, so showers reach the open grassland and the golf course before they reach the village streets below. Walkers and golfers watch the radar rather than the sky over the village. RainViewer shows the cell climbing the scarp.
- Does rain affect the B4632 near Bishops Cleeve?
Yes, the B4632 and the lanes linking Bishops Cleeve to Cheltenham slow in heavy rain, and water collects at the low points below the scarp. Check the radar before heading out. RainViewer shows whether the band is still approaching or has cleared already.
- Does Bishops Cleeve flood when it rains?
Bishops Cleeve does not flood as often as the Severn vale nearby, but heavy rain running off Cleeve Hill can fill the lanes and ditches at the foot of the scarp. The village stays largely clear on its gentle slope. The radar shows whether a heavy cell is still building over the hill.
- When is the best time to visit Bishops Cleeve to avoid rain?
May to September is the best window to visit Bishops Cleeve, with Cleeve Common and the village green at their best. Spring showers can still cross the scarp with little warning. Check the radar in the morning and plan the walk for the dry gap.
- Why can it rain on Cleeve Common while the village centre stays dry around Bishops Cleeve?
Cleeve Common sits high on the Cotswold scarp and catches showers as they lift off the vale, so the common can be wet while the village at its foot stays dry until the band reaches the lower slopes. A forecast covers both places with one number, while the radar map shows the rain crossing Cleeve Common and missing the village centre.
- Why does RainViewer refresh so often in Bishops Cleeve?
The map for Bishops Cleeve updates about every 5 minutes because the underlying Met Office radar scans arrive on that cycle, not a slower forecast update. Met Office C-band dual-polarization radars separate rain from hail and wet snow, which matters on the Mendip and Cotswold high ground where showers change type with height. That frequent, hyperlocal refresh is what catches a shower building or clearing over a specific street.
- What can I do with RainViewer in Bishops Cleeve beyond checking current rain?
Set a rain alert on Cleeve Common or the village green and RainViewer warns you before rain arrives. That lets you time a walk or a match. The 2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices shows the next gap, and saved locations track Cheltenham and Cleeve Hill together.
Track Rain in Bishops Cleeve in Real Time
A walk on Cleeve Common and an afternoon on the village green both depend on a dry gap, and RainViewer shows the next one.
Bishops Cleeve sees rain move in from the west, with hills nearby lifting the heaviest bands off the coast.
Your phone forecast says showers in Bishops Cleeve this afternoon. RainViewer's live hyperlocal radar shows the cell still climbing Cleeve Hill with the village centre dry, which decides whether the walk starts now.
Track rain in Bishops Cleeve — free Upgrade to Essential for alerts, forecasts, and full radar history
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
Two hours of 5-minute steps let you time the walk on Cleeve Common to the minute.
Rain alerts before arrival
Put an alert on Cleeve Common. RainViewer warns you minutes ahead, which settles whether to start the climb or wait at the car park.
Direction arrows on the map
Rain reaches Bishops Cleeve most often from the west and south-west, so the arrows tell you at a glance whether a cell is heading your way.
48 hours of radar history
The 48-hour history shows what fell on the Cotswold scarp above the village, which is the fastest way to judge ground conditions.
Multiple locations
Save Cleeve Common, Cheltenham and Winchcombe and check all three in one look.
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