Is it raining now in Derry?
Sunny
5 OctNo upcoming precipitation for the next hour.
Last update: 21:00, 5 Oct 2026
Free to download * Essential from $0.83 * Prices vary by region and promotions.
- App Only
Track up to 20 locations
Home, office, kids' school - all at once, no switching tabs.
- App Only
Alerts for each of them
Get notified 15 minutes before rain - while you can still change your plans.
- App Only
Widgets on your home screen
Live radar without opening the app - on your lock screen or home screen.
Rain in Derry: What You Need to Know
Derry stands on the River Foyle in the north-west of Northern Ireland, with the Walled City on its hill above the river and the Sperrin Mountains to the south-east. Atlantic air reaches it from the west across Donegal, and the estuary of the Foyle opens to Lough Foyle. This is the case for using a Derry rain radar over a standard forecast, because hyperlocal radar shows precisely where the rain is falling.
The Foyle valley channels showers up the river from Lough Foyle, and the Sperrins lift bands to the south-east, so the Walled City on its hill and the Foyleside can see rain at different times. Rain arrives from the west across the Atlantic and the Irish Sea, and it meets high ground on every side of the main towns. Orographic lift over the Antrim Hills and the Sperrins turns light rain into heavy rain, while sheltered valleys in the lee of the hills can stay drier.
For anyone in Derry, Northern Ireland, RainViewer shows Met Office radar data live, refreshed with every new scan roughly every 5 minutes. The live map shows whether a shower is over Donegal, crossing the Foyle or already at the Peace Bridge, which a forecast for Derry cannot tell you.
Rain by Season in Derry
Autumn and winter frontal season (September to January)
Autumn and winter Atlantic fronts bring steady rain, and the Foyle and the Faughan run high through the valley. Named storms and repeated fronts bring rain and wind, and rivers and loughs rise on saturated ground. Coastal roads, ferry routes and low-lying streets are affected first.
Transition months (February to April)
From February to April, weather swings quickly between showers, hail and sleet, and forecasting struggles because the individual cells are small and move fast. Anyone out on a hill walk or playing spring sport is the most likely to be caught out by a sudden change. Spring showers cross the estuary, and walks on the city walls and along the Foyle are the plans most often caught.
Summer season (May to August)
Between May and August rain becomes less frequent overall, but the province still sees Atlantic showers passing through, and inland areas can develop thunderstorms on warm afternoons. Anything planned outdoors, from festivals to coastal drives, works around the short breaks in the weather. Summer thunderstorms build over the Sperrins, and outdoor events around the Guildhall and Ebrington Square depend on the cell track.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in Derry
City wall and Bogside visitors
The Walled City's ramparts are open-air and slippery in rain. Check the radar for the next dry window and time the walk.
Halloween carnival crowds
The Halloween carnival each October fills the streets and the quay, and rain thins the crowds. Watch the shower approach and time the visit.
Peace Bridge and Foyle riverside walkers
The Peace Bridge and the Foyle riverside path are exposed to wind and showers. See whether the cell will pass and time the crossing.
Commuters on the A2 and the A6
The A2, the A6 and the Foyle bridges slow in heavy rain. The radar shows whether now is the moment to leave or wait it out.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in Derry
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 Derry the map also covers Strabane, Limavady and Buncrana.
Derry Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- How does rain affect the Halloween carnival in Derry?
Rain thins the crowds along the Foyle and in the Walled City, and the costumed parade and the fireworks depend on dry windows. Organisers and visitors watch approaching cells. RainViewer shows the shower crossing the estuary.
- Does rain affect the A2 near Derry?
Yes, heavy rain slows the A2, the A6 and the Foyle Bridge, and spray and gusts build on the exposed stretches. A radar check before driving shows what to expect. RainViewer marks exactly where the cell is, making it easy to tell if it is coming or going.
- Does Derry flood when it rains?
Derry has surface flooding on low ground beside the Foyle after heavy rain, and the river can flood when a storm surge meets a high tide. The hill keeps the Walled City dry. RainViewer's map shows a heavy band approaching well before it arrives.
- When is the best time to visit Derry to avoid rain?
May to August is the best window to visit Derry, with the Walled City, the Peace Bridge and Ebrington Square at their best. Showers in summer pass quickly. The first radar check of the day shows where the dry hours sit.
- Why can it rain on the Foyleside while the Walled City stays dry around Derry?
The Foyle valley channels showers up the river, so the low Foyleside can be soaked while the Walled City on its hill stays dry until the band climbs the slope. Live radar shows the edge of each cell, so checking the Foyleside and the Walled City separately shows which side of the line you are on.
- How far ahead does the Derry radar forecast go?
The short-range forecast for Derry covers the next two hours in 5-minute steps, built from the same Met Office radar the live map uses. 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. That hyperlocal nowcast is far tighter than a general daily outlook.
- What can I do with RainViewer in Derry beyond checking current rain?
Set a rain alert on the Peace Bridge or the Guildhall and RainViewer warns you before rain arrives. That makes timing a walk or a commute straightforward. The 2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices shows the next gap, and saved locations track Ebrington Square and Limavady.
Track Rain in Derry in Real Time
A walk on the city walls and a crossing of the Peace Bridge both depend on a dry gap, and RainViewer shows the next one.
Rain in Derry arrives in bands from the Atlantic, and a bright hour can end in minutes.
Your phone forecast says showers in Derry this afternoon. RainViewer's live hyperlocal radar shows the cell over the Foyle with the Walled City still dry, and that decides when the walk starts.
Track rain in Derry — free Upgrade to Essential for alerts, forecasts, and full radar history
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
Slice the next two hours into 5-minute steps and pick the gap for the walk on the city walls.
Rain alerts before arrival
An alert on the Peace Bridge arrives while the rain is still on its way, and that decides whether to walk the ramparts now or wait.
Direction arrows on the map
In Derry the wet weather tends to come from the west and south-west, off the Atlantic, and the arrows show the track of every shower.
48 hours of radar history
Scroll back over the Foyle valley to see what actually fell overnight.
Multiple locations
Track the Peace Bridge, the Guildhall and Ebrington Square together and compare which one is dry.
RainViewer
