Lima is one of the driest major cities on Earth, sitting in a narrow coastal desert strip where the cold Humboldt Current suppresses rainfall almost entirely, with the city averaging only about 13 mm (roughly half an inch) of rain a year. Because genuine rainfall is so rare, the city’s infrastructure isn’t built to handle it, and even a modest, unusual rain event can cause disproportionate disruption on streets and hillside settlements that see essentially no runoff planning in a normal year. The bigger and better-known hazard tied to the same climate system is El Niño: during El Niño years, ocean temperatures off the coast rise and can bring unusually heavy rain and flooding to a region utterly unprepared for it. Radar is a useful way to catch these rare but consequential shifts early, since a normal dry-season forecast simply isn’t built around watching for rain. Peru’s national weather service, SENAMHI, operates the country’s weather radar network.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in Lima right now?
The live radar map above shows precipitation over Lima in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over Lima, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the Lima 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 Lima?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Peru are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach Lima or pass by.
Is this Lima 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.