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.

Geraldton UV Index — Live Readings & Forecast

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

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Live UV index — Geraldton

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

Nearby UV pages

Compare Geraldton's UV reading with other centres in Western Australia.

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7-day UV forecast — Geraldton

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

Geraldton sits at 28.8°S on WA's Mid West coast and records sustained extreme UV from October through April, with the index routinely peaking at 12–13 in summer. The town's famously windy, sunny climate, near-cloudless skies and long daylight hours combine to produce one of the highest annual UV doses in southern WA. Town Beach, Champion Bay and the Houtman Abrolhos Islands attract outdoor activity year-round, and reflected UV from the white sand and clear Indian Ocean water adds up to 25% to direct exposure. WA does not observe daylight saving, so solar noon UV peaks around 12:20pm AWST. ARPANSA recommends sun protection whenever the UV index reads 3 or higher, which in Geraldton applies to virtually every daylight hour from September through to May.

Peak UV season in Geraldton: October to April.

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 Geraldton

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 Geraldton 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 Western Australia →Geraldton weather hub →

UV Index Geraldton — FAQs

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