Finding out the UV radiation levels in your area

If we can’t see or feel UV, how do we know when we need to use sun protection? Sun protection is needed whenever the UV is 3 or above, this is known as the sun protection times.

You can check the sun protection times for your local area by using:

• the free SunSmart app
• the Bureau of Meteorology website
• the weather section of daily newspapers
• the SunSmart UV alert.

UV Index

The UV Index was developed by the World Health Organisation to measure the intensity of the sun on any given day. The UV index ranges from zero (none, e.g. at night) to 11+, which is extreme. When the UV index reaches 3, sun protection is required for the general population.

In NSW the UV is high enough (i.e. at least 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin at least 10 months of the year so it’s important to remember that sun protection is something we need all year round, not just in the warmer months.

The SunSmart UV Alert uses the UV Index to demonstrate how UV levels rise and drop throughout the day. It is often presented in the shape of a bell curve to show how UV radiation levels change throughout the day – lower in the morning, highest in the middle part of the day and gradually dropping again throughout the afternoon. 

Download our UV Alert poster to understand how to read the daily UV Alert.

SunSmart app

Download our free SunSmart app for your Android device or iPhone to check your daily local sun protection times.

Features include:

• alerts to remind you about sun protection times
• a sunscreen calculator and a two-hour reminder to top up
• a four-day forecast of sun protection times and weather information
• latest information from SunSmart.

SunSmart UV alert widget

<iframe id="uvindexwidget" style="padding: 0; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.sunsmart.com.au/uvalert/default.asp?locationid=60" width="170" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>

Remember: whenever the UV is 3 or above, sun protection is required.