rainSPOT
-
rainSPOT
The rainSPOT is a unique meteoblue visualisation showing regional precipitation around a selected location. It provides a quick overview of how rainfall is distributed in the hours preceding the indicated time.
It visualises:
• Precipitation totals for the chosen interval (e.g. a 3-hour rainSPOT at 11:00 shows precipitation from 08:00–11:00).
• Precipitation intensity with colour-coded shading.
• Spatial distribution of rainfall around the chosen location, always centred in the middle grid cell.
• Precipitation types (rain, drizzle, hail, ice, snow).How it works
• rainSPOT aggregates forecast grid cells: the chosen location is always placed in the central grid cell.
• The radius of the outer circle is indicated on the left side of the diagram.
• meteoblue models allow global coverage, including mountainous and offshore regions.
• Resolution varies by region:
– 3–4 km in Europe and North America for the first 3 days.
– 12 km for days 4–7, or in other global regions.
• rainSPOT works in combination with the pictocast, where additional details such as amount, timing, and probability are shown.Limitations
• In mountainous regions, precipitation can be highly localised (e.g. only on a slope or summit), while the grid cell covers a wider area.
• A forecast of 1 mm in a 10x10 km cell may represent uniform rain, patchy showers, or even localised heavy downpours.
• Radar or satellite adjustments are applied where available, but local variations may still occur.
• Forecast accuracy decreases for longer lead times and complex terrains.Best use cases
• Identifying whether precipitation will be widespread, showery, or localised.
• Tracking thunderstorm activity and precipitation fronts.
• Recognising persistent rain events (monsoon, low-pressure systems).
• Supporting outdoor planni
