Leaving later can help you avoid rain, but only if it changes when you reach the rainy parts of the route. Compare a few start times using the same roads and stops, then see whether your preferred option still works with a delay.

Don't stop at the forecast for home. As the example below shows, waiting an hour can get you past one shower and straight into another farther down the road.

Start with the departures you can actually use

Start with the times that fit your day. When can you leave, when do you need to arrive, and where will you stop? Rule out anything that needs rushing, skipping a break or missing a booking. Check official warnings and closures before planning around ordinary showers.

Find the sections where rain is expected and note when you'll reach them. Check when it's forecast to start, get heavier and clear. Use hourly forecasts with a map, or a route-weather forecast that matches places and times for you.

Worked example: 09:00, 10:00 or 11:00?

Here's a made-up ride lasting two and a half hours, including stops. You reach a hill an hour after leaving and a valley after one hour and 40 minutes. The example forecast puts rain over the hill around 10:00–11:00 and the valley around 11:15–12:15. It's dry at home throughout.

Departure At the hill At the valley Arrival at destination
09:00 10:00: during the rain window 10:40: before the rain window 11:30
10:00 11:00: near the forecast end of rain 11:40: during the rain window 12:30
11:00 12:00: after the rain window 12:40: after the rain window 13:30

The 11:00 start looks worth checking. Leaving at 10:00 only swaps rain on the hill for rain in the valley. The 09:00 start gets you to the destination earlier, but you'd cross the hill during the forecast rain.

Now check the rest of the route for an 11:00 start. Two dry checkpoints don't tell you what's happening between them. Look at gusts, visibility, temperature and the ride home too. A drier outward ride may be a poor trade if it leaves you returning in stronger wind.

What if the rain clears late or you get delayed?

Try changing two things in the example:

  1. The rain clears later. Shift the rain times by 30 minutes. Rain in the valley would now last until 12:45, five minutes after your 12:40 arrival.
  2. You get delayed. Allow for a fuel queue, slow traffic or a longer break, then recheck. You may meet later rain elsewhere or end up riding home after dark.

Those 30 minutes are just an example, not a measure of forecast accuracy or a guaranteed buffer. The point is to find out whether the plan depends on everything happening exactly on time. If it does, look for a bigger gap, try another route or choose another day. Don't ride faster to make the schedule work.

After a long stop, check the next leg with its own departure time. Adding a lunch waypoint doesn't tell the app how long you'll spend there. MotoMeteo PRO can compare departures across a chosen window, but you'll still need to check the details before deciding.

Read more than the rain percentage

The US National Weather Service explains precipitation probability as the chance of measurable precipitation at a place during a stated period. A 40% chance doesn't mean you'll spend 40% of the ride in rain.

Look at rain amount or intensity, the period covered and the hours either side. The rain won't necessarily stop at 11:00 because the next icon shows a cloud. Our rain probability guide explains what those numbers can tell you.

Consider the road before and after the shower

Rain can stop while the road stays wet. The UK Highway Code notes that wet roads reduce tyre grip, while rain and spray reduce visibility. Check the road conditions even after the shower has passed.

When waiting for a gap isn't enough

A short dry spell in the forecast isn't a reason to ride through thunderstorms, flooding or freezing rain. Follow official warnings and road information, and postpone or cancel when needed. If none of the start times works for your experience, equipment and schedule, you can leave the bike at home.

Recheck close to departure

Check warnings, current conditions and a fresh route forecast shortly before setting off. Keep waterproofs handy even if your chosen time looks dry.

If the weather turns out worse than expected, change the plan. Stop safely before checking the app or choosing another route. Check the ride home with its own departure time before you leave.

For the rest of the weather checks, see our motorcycle route-weather guide.