What is the UV index in Sydney today?

See today's UV index for Sydney hour by hour above. The UV index is highest around solar noon and depends on the season, the weather and how high the sun rises above the horizon.

When is the UV index highest?

The UV index peaks around solar noon, typically between 12:00 and 15:00, when the sun is highest in the sky. About two-thirds of the day’s total UV falls between 10:00 and 16:00.

When should you use sunscreen?

The WHO recommends sun protection whenever the UV index is 3 or higher. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30, seek shade around midday, and wear sunglasses and a hat when UV is high.

Daylight Hours › UV Index › Sydney

UV Index in Sydney Today

November 12, 2026 · Sydney, Australia

4,627,345 people

See today's UV index in Sydney hour by hour below. The UV index shows how strong the sun's ultraviolet radiation is — the higher the number, the faster skin can burn. Values are calculated for Sydney's coordinates and updated daily.

UV now · 22:00

0Low

UV has dropped for today

Peak today10at 13:00

Protect yourself08:50–16:21UV 3 or above

Time to burn~15 minfair skin, unprotected

Hour by hour

Protection windowClear sky

Remember today

Sunscreen SPF 50+
Sunglasses
Hat
Shade at midday
Cover up

Daylight: sunrise 05:47 – sunset 19:33

Tomorrow: UV 10 at its peak around 13:00

Calculate for Sydney Use my location

The UV index in Sydney peaks at 10 (very high) around 13:00 today. Sun protection is recommended between 08:50 and 16:21, while the index stays at 3 or above. Tomorrow the index is forecast to peak at 10 around 13:00.

UV index in Sydney hour by hour

Time	UV index	Level
05:00	0	Low
06:00	0.1	Low
07:00	0.5	Low
08:00	1.5	Low
09:00	3.3	Moderate
10:00	5.5	Moderate
11:00	8	Very high
12:00	9.2	Very high
13:00	9.6	Very high
14:00	8.3	Very high
15:00	6.1	High
16:00	3.7	Moderate
17:00	1.7	Low
18:00	0.6	Low
19:00	0.1	Low
20:00	0	Low

UV index in Sydney

Sydney lies at 34°S. The midday sun reaches 73.7° above the horizon in Sydney today, against a yearly ceiling of 79.6°. Elevation is what sets the ceiling for UV, and over Sydney it is high enough for the index to reach very high values through the summer months. Sydney is on the coast, where water and sand reflect UV back up at you and the sea breeze hides the heat that would otherwise send you into the shade.

What is the UV index?

The UV index is an international scale describing the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation at ground level. It starts at 0 and is effectively open-ended — at mid-latitudes it rarely exceeds 8, while in the tropics and high in the mountains it can pass 11. The higher the number, the less time it takes to get sunburnt.

The UV index depends mainly on how high the sun is in the sky. That is why it peaks around solar noon and is greatest in summer near the longest day of the year. Clouds, ozone, altitude and reflection from snow or water also affect the value.

The WHO UV scale

UV index	Level	Recommendation
0–2	Low	No special protection needed.
3–5	Moderate	Use sunscreen (SPF 30+), seek shade around midday.
6–7	High	Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Avoid the sun 12:00–15:00.
8–10	Very high	Extra protection. Limit midday sun exposure.
11+	Extreme	Avoid the sun at midday. Full protection required.

See also sunrise, sunset and daylight hours in Sydney.