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Live UV index — Canberra
Current UV reading and outlook for the next 12 hours. Data refreshes hourly from Open-Meteo.
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7-day UV forecast — Canberra
Daily peak UV index for the next week. Sun protection is required whenever UV reaches 3 or above.
The UV index in Canberra reaches extreme (11+) on clear summer days from late November through February and stays in the high-to-very-high band across most of the warmer half of the year. At 35.3°S and 580m elevation, Canberra's combination of altitude, clear inland air and long daylight hours produces stronger UV than coastal cities at similar latitudes — for every 1,000m of elevation UV intensity increases roughly 10%. Cancer Council ACT notes that the cool mornings and dry mountain air mask the burn risk; a crisp 22°C December morning at Lake Burley Griffin can still register UV 10 by 11am. Solar noon UV peaks around 1:00pm AEDT during daylight saving. ARPANSA recommends sun protection whenever the UV index reaches 3, which in Canberra applies from late September through to April. Live UV on this page updates hourly from Open-Meteo, with a 7-day forecast for planning outdoor activity.
Peak UV season in Canberra: November to February, peaking December–January.
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 Canberra
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 Canberra can still deliver a sunburn dose because up to 80% of UV penetrates light cloud.
UV Index Canberra — FAQs
UV data: Open-Meteo. Reference guidance: ARPANSA, Cancer Council Australia, Bureau of Meteorology.