Methods and Systems for Estimating Rain Rate via Vehicle Imaging Radar

Example embodiments relate to techniques for using vehicle image radar to estimate rain rate and other weather conditions. A computing device may receive radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle. The radar data can represent the vehicle's environment. The computing device may use the radar data to determine a radar representation that indicates backscatter power and estimate, using a rain rate model, a rain rate for the environment based on the radar representation. The computing device may then control the vehicle based on the rain rate. In some examples, the computing device may provide the rain rate estimation and an indication of its current location to other vehicles to enable the vehicles to adjust routes based on the rain rate estimation.