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.

Central Coast UV Index — Live Readings & Forecast

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

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Live UV index — Central Coast

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

Nearby UV pages

Compare Central Coast's UV reading with other centres in New South Wales.

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7-day UV forecast — Central Coast

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

The NSW Central Coast — Gosford, Terrigal, The Entrance and Avoca Beach — sits at 33.4°S and records UV peaks almost identical to Sydney, regularly hitting extreme (11+) on clear summer afternoons between November and February. Long stretches of east-facing beach plus the popular freshwater lakes of Tuggerah and Macquarie create high reflective UV environments, where exposure can be 25% above the open-air reading. Cancer Council NSW highlights the Central Coast's combination of outdoor lifestyle and underestimated burn risk during the cooling NE sea breeze. Solar noon UV peaks around 12:50pm AEDT under daylight saving. ARPANSA recommends the SunSmart five whenever the UV index reads 3 or higher, which on the Central Coast applies from late September through to April. Live UV readings on this page update hourly from Open-Meteo with a 7-day forecast.

Peak UV season in Central Coast: November to February.

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 Central Coast

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 Central Coast 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 NSW →Central Coast weather hub →

UV Index Central Coast — FAQs

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