Rain radar canton of Valais live
This radar covers the whole canton of Valais — 122 municipalities, from 374 to 2931 m — during the last two hours, followed by a 30-minute radar forecast. The framing follows the cantonal boundaries, which a nationwide map cannot show.
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How to read this radar over Valais Alps
The Valais is the driest region in Switzerland, shielded from fronts by a double barrier of peaks. The radar often shows an empty screen there while it rains heavily on either side. The episodes that matter come from the south-west and spill over the passes: when echoes appear on the ridge, the rain reaches the valley floor one to two hours later.
The climate of canton of Valais in figures
MeteoSwiss 1991-2020 normals, computed for canton of Valais from the nearest SwissMetNet stations. They give the order of magnitude of what the radar shows through the year.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Precipitation per year | 782 mm |
| Rain days per year | 81 |
| Wettest month | December (87 mm) |
| Driest month | September (48 mm) |
| Snow days | 12 |
| Sunshine | 2 171 h |
Radar nearby
Radar for neighbouring municipalities and cantons:
National radar
For an overview of Switzerland: Rain radar Switzerland live
Is the canton of Valais radar real-time?
A new image is available roughly every 10 minutes. The page loads the image list each time it opens; reload for the most recent one. The last 30 minutes shown are a forecast (nowcasting), not an observation.
Does the radar see snow?
Yes: the radar detects all precipitation. In winter and at altitude, blue echoes are usually snow. The day's rain-snow line is given on the ski resort pages.
Why does the radar show rain when nothing is falling?
The radar beam measures several hundred metres above the ground. In dry air the drops evaporate before reaching it: that is virga. Conversely, in deep valleys the relief screens the beam and the radar underestimates what actually falls.
Radar data: RainViewer composite (European radars, including MeteoSwiss), updated every 10 minutes. Climate normals: MeteoSwiss, SwissMetNet network, 1991-2020 period. Base map © OpenStreetMap. This radar is indicative; for official warnings consult the authorities.