Check the weather for the roads you'll ride, at the times you'll reach them. A dry start and a sunny destination can still leave you riding through rain in between. Allow for breaks and check the ride home too.

You can use a map and hourly forecasts, or let a route-weather app match the places and times. Either way, start with official warnings, then work through the ride in order.

1. Check official warnings first

Check the official weather service and road authority for the areas you'll cross. A closed pass or a warning against travel may settle the decision before you start comparing forecasts.

Check along the whole route. In Europe, Meteoalarm brings together official warnings from participating weather services. Open each relevant warning to see where it applies, when it's in force and what action it recommends. Bookmark those pages so you can recheck before leaving.

Use MotoMeteo alongside those warnings and road updates when planning your ride.

2. Choose your roads and departure time

Decide which roads you'll take and when you'll leave. Then allow for fuel, lunch and any other stops that will change when you reach the later sections.

In MotoMeteo, enter the route or import a GPX file from another planner. The app estimates when you'll reach points along the ride and shows the forecast for those times.

Our Calimoto and Kurviger walkthrough explains the export and import steps. Set a new departure for this ride, regardless of any old timestamps in the file. After a long lunch or overnight stop, check the next leg separately with its own departure time.

Example: a two-hour ride with a 30-minute break

Here's a made-up forecast for a ride with two hours on the road and a half-hour café stop. You'll be out for two and a half hours in total.

Route section Expected time Example forecast What to check or do
Leave home 09:00 Dry, 12°C Check the hills too, even though it's dry at home.
Open bridge 09:40 Gusts increasing Check gusts and whether another crossing would help.
Café stop 10:00–10:30 Dry Include the whole break in the later arrival times.
Higher roads 11:00 8°C; rain expected from 10:45 Have warm layers and waterproofs ready before the climb.
Destination 11:30 Dry, 15°C Pack for the cold, wet section as well as the dry finish.

Without the café stop, you'd reach the higher roads at 10:30, before the forecast rain. Including the break puts you there at 11:00, after it's expected to start. Check the leg after the stop with its own departure time; don't ride faster to try to beat the rain.

3. Look for weather that could change the ride

You don't need to memorise every forecast number. Look for places where you might need to change the plan:

  • where rain is expected to begin or become heavier;
  • where sustained wind or gusts increase;
  • where visibility falls because of fog or heavy precipitation;
  • where it gets cold enough to need another layer or to check for ice;
  • where low sun, reported surface problems or thunderstorms need attention.

Open the forecasts around those places. How much of the route is affected, how long is it expected to last, and when will you be there?

4. Read rain probability with timing and amount

The US National Weather Service explains rain probability as a chance of precipitation at a particular place during a stated period. The percentage alone doesn't tell you when rain will arrive or how heavy it'll be.

Check the forecast period and rain amount alongside the percentage. Rain over a demanding mountain section may affect your plans more than rain after you've reached the hotel. Our rain probability guide covers the numbers in more detail.

5. Check wind on exposed roads

Look at gusts and wind direction as well as average wind speed. A sheltered town and a nearby bridge can give you very different rides. Pay particular attention to open farmland, coast roads, passes and gaps in shelter.

The UK Highway Code warns that gusts can blow motorcyclists off course on exposed roads and bridges. It also highlights turbulence from large vehicles.

There's no wind speed that's safe for every rider, bike and road. If an exposed section looks uncomfortable for you, check a more sheltered route or postpone. Our wind-planning guide explains what to compare.

6. Plan clothing for the coldest and wettest section

In the example, it's 15°C at the finish but 8°C and wet on the higher roads. Choose layers and gloves for that colder section, including how long you'll spend in it.

Keep waterproofs and spare layers where you can reach them. They're less useful buried under everything else when the rain starts.

7. Compare realistic alternatives

If part of the ride looks unpleasant, try another plan:

  1. Choose an earlier or later departure that fits your day.
  2. Recheck the whole route for that start time.
  3. Look for trade-offs: less rain might mean stronger gusts later.
  4. Try a more sheltered road if wind is the problem.
  5. Postpone if the warnings or conditions call for it.

MotoMeteo PRO can compare departures across a chosen time window. Check the details of the suggested option, including any wet or windy sections it still contains.

Give the ride home its own departure time and forecast. Our outbound and return guide shows how to check both halves of a day trip or commute.

8. Recheck before leaving

Recheck warnings, current conditions and the route forecast shortly before leaving. Rain may arrive earlier or later than expected. Once you're out, follow road signs and closures, and respond to the conditions in front of you.

Check forecast screens before setting off or when safely stopped.

Before you leave, know which section needs the most attention, when you'll get there and what you'll do if the weather turns worse. That gives you a plan you can use on the day.