What is the UV index?

The UV index measures the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation at the Earth's surface on a scale from 0 (no risk) to 11+ (extreme). In Australia, UV regularly reaches 11+ in summer — among the highest in the world.

When is UV highest in Australia?

UV is strongest between 10am and 3pm AEST/AEDT, typically peaking around solar noon. Levels are highest in summer (December–February) and across northern Australia year-round.

Can you get sunburnt when the UV index is below 3?

Skin damage from UV is unlikely when the index is below 3, so sun protection generally isn't required. However, people with very fair skin or those on photosensitising medication should still take care.

What UV level requires sun protection?

Cancer Council Australia and ARPANSA recommend sun protection (SPF 50+ sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, protective clothing, shade) whenever the UV index reaches 3 or higher.

How accurate is the UV index forecast?

Forecasts use validated solar radiation models (Open-Meteo, ARPANSA, ECMWF) and are accurate to within ±1 UV unit under clear skies. Heavy cloud, smoke or haze can lower actual UV by 20–80%.

Does cloud cover block UV radiation?

No — up to 80% of UV passes through light cloud cover. You can still get sunburnt on overcast days, especially when the forecast UV is 6 or higher.

Brisbane UV Index — Live Readings & Forecast

Name: UV index observations and forecast — Brisbane
Creator: Open-Meteo
License: https://open-meteo.com/en/license

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Live UV index — Brisbane

Current UV reading and outlook for the next 12 hours. Data refreshes hourly from Open-Meteo.

Nearby UV pages

Compare Brisbane's UV reading with other centres in Queensland.

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Visit our local weather forecast page, search for your town or suburb, and UV information will be shown alongside the weather for that location.

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7-day UV forecast — Brisbane

Daily peak UV index for the next week. Sun protection is required whenever UV reaches 3 or above.

The UV index in Brisbane is among the highest of any Australian capital, routinely hitting extreme (11–13) from October through March and rarely dropping below moderate even in winter. At 27.5°S Brisbane's subtropical position, year-round sunshine and outdoor culture make the live UV reading a daily safety check — Cancer Council Queensland records the highest melanoma rates in the world across south-east Queensland. Queensland does not observe daylight saving, so solar noon UV peaks around 11:45am AEST. The river city's humidity and afternoon sea breezes mask the burn risk; a humid 28°C morning can still deliver UV 11. ARPANSA recommends the SunSmart five whenever the UV index reaches 3, which in Brisbane applies to every daylight hour for most of the year. This page shows live UV updated hourly from Open-Meteo, plus a 7-day forecast for the greater Brisbane region.

Peak UV season in Brisbane: year-round, peaking October to March.

UV Index Scale & Sun Protection

Low (0–2)
No protection required
Moderate (3–5)
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
High (6–7)
Protection essential, seek shade midday
Very High (8–10)
Extra protection, avoid sun 10am–4pm
Extreme (11+)
Stay indoors when possible

Scale follows the WHO/ARPANSA Global Solar UV Index. Source: ARPANSA & Cancer Council Australia.

Sun protection in Brisbane

Cancer Council and ARPANSA recommend the SunSmart five whenever the UV index reaches 3: slip on protective clothing, slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses. UV is invisible and unrelated to temperature — cool, overcast days in Brisbane can still deliver a sunburn dose because up to 80% of UV penetrates light cloud.

National UV index hub →7-day Australian UV forecast →UV index Queensland →Brisbane weather hub →

UV Index Brisbane — FAQs

UV data: Open-Meteo. Reference guidance: ARPANSA, Cancer Council Australia, Bureau of Meteorology.