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.

Katherine UV Index — Live Readings & Forecast

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

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Live UV index — Katherine

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

Nearby UV pages

Compare Katherine's UV reading with other centres in Northern Territory.

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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 — Katherine

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

Katherine sits at 14.5°S in the Top End and records extreme UV (11+) every single month of the year. The dry season (May to October) delivers near-cloudless skies and UV peaks of 13–14, while wet-season cloud cover from December to March provides only partial relief — up to 80% of UV penetrates light cloud. Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), the Katherine Hot Springs and the surrounding savanna country place residents and visitors in long-duration outdoor settings under near-overhead tropical sun. Cancer Council NT records the country's highest age-standardised melanoma rates per capita. NT does not observe daylight saving, so solar noon UV peaks around 12:25pm ACST. ARPANSA recommends continuous sun protection during all outdoor activity in Katherine — the UV index is above the safe threshold from soon after sunrise to well before sunset.

Peak UV season in Katherine: extreme UV every month of the year.

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 Katherine

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 Katherine 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 Northern Territory →Katherine weather hub →

UV Index Katherine — FAQs

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