When does Cairns need sun protection?

Whenever the UV index is 3 or above. In Cairns that is every day of the year. SunSmart and ARPANSA use the same rule Australia-wide.

Does Cairns need sun protection in winter?

Usually yes. At 16.9°S, winter middays in Cairns still commonly reach UV 3 or higher, the SunSmart threshold for Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide. Check today's live reading on this page before a long lunch outside.

Does the water make UV worse in Cairns?

It can. Sand and water reflect ultraviolet, so skin that is not covered (including under the chin and on the tops of feet) picks up extra dose on top of the direct sun. The live UV index on this page is the sky reading; reflection is on top of that.

UV index in Cairns today

At 17 degrees south, Cairns sits deeper in the tropics than almost any Australian city, and its UV shows it: extreme readings for most of the year, with even July middays reaching levels that burn fair skin inside half an hour. Reef trips add water reflection on top.

Live reading · data by Open-Meteo · reference monitoring by ARPANSA

Today and tomorrow in Cairns

Peak UV, temperature and conditions for Cairns. Tomorrow’s peak is the number to plan around if you’re heading out in the middle of the day.

Weather conditions right now

Cloud and rain cut heat more than they cut UV. A partly cloudy beach day in Cairns can still sit at protection levels. Why you burn on cloudy days.

When Cairns needs sun protection

Sun protection is needed every day of the year in Cairns. UV passes 3 by mid-morning even in the depths of the dry season, and summer readings routinely exceed 14.

The threshold, per SunSmart and ARPANSA: whenever UV reaches 3 or above, Slip on covering clothing, Slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade and Slide on sunglasses. Read the full sun safety guide.

Where the UV adds up in Cairns

Long, happy hours outdoors are where exposure quietly accumulates. Local favourites where the five S’s earn their keep:

The Esplanade Lagoon and boardwalk
Great Barrier Reef day trips (water reflection doubles up)
Palm Cove and the northern beaches
The Red Arrow track and Botanic Gardens

The UV scale at a glance

0–2Low
3–5Moderate
6–7High
8–10Very high
11+Extreme

Local support in Queensland

Cancer Council Queensland: Prevention and support in the state with Australia's highest skin-cancer rates.

Frequently asked questions

When does Cairns need sun protection?: Whenever the UV index is 3 or above. In Cairns that is every day of the year. SunSmart and ARPANSA use the same rule Australia-wide.
Does Cairns need sun protection in winter?: Usually yes. At 16.9°S, winter middays in Cairns still commonly reach UV 3 or higher, the SunSmart threshold for Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide. Check today's live reading on this page before a long lunch outside.
Does the water make UV worse in Cairns?: It can. Sand and water reflect ultraviolet, so skin that is not covered (including under the chin and on the tops of feet) picks up extra dose on top of the direct sun. The live UV index on this page is the sky reading; reflection is on top of that.