Cairo is an extremely dry desert city, averaging only around 25 mm (about 1 inch) of rain a year, most of it falling in brief winter showers between November and March. Because genuine rainfall is so rare, the city’s drainage infrastructure is minimal by design, and even a modest, unusual downpour can overwhelm streets that see essentially no rain for most of the year, causing localized flooding and traffic disruption disproportionate to the actual rainfall amount. These rare rain events are often tied to Mediterranean storm systems dipping unusually far south. Because a normal day in Cairo involves zero expectation of rain, radar is mainly useful during the handful of unsettled winter days each year when a storm system does push into the region, giving residents a rare but genuinely actionable heads-up. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority operates the country’s weather monitoring and radar network.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in Cairo right now?
The live radar map above shows precipitation over Cairo in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over Cairo, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the Cairo rain radar update?
The radar refreshes continuously, typically every few minutes, so the map reflects current conditions rather than an hours-old forecast. Press play to animate the most recent frames.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward Cairo?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Egypt are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach Cairo or pass by.
Is this Cairo rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.