Does Cooks Gap need sun protection in winter?

Not every day. Midwinter middays in Cooks Gap often sit below UV 3, but clear late-winter days (from August in much of New South Wales) cross the threshold before the weather feels like spring. Check the live index.

Can you burn on a cool day in Cooks Gap?

Yes. UV is not heat. A cool, windy or lightly cloudy day in Cooks Gap can still sit at UV 3 or above, especially from spring through autumn. Temperature on this page is for context only; the UV number is what decides protection.

UV index in Cooks Gap today

Q: When does Cooks Gap need sun protection?

Whenever the UV index is 3 or above. In Cooks Gap that is typically from September through April, and any other day UV reaches 3. SunSmart and ARPANSA use the same rule Australia-wide.

Inland Cooks Gap (NSW) is 32.4° south. Without sea haze, January UV commonly runs 10–12 (very high to extreme), and a cool morning is no reason to skip sunscreen. This is warm-temperate Australia: a long protection season from early spring through autumn, with the odd clear winter midday that still burns.

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

Today and tomorrow in Cooks Gap

Peak UV, temperature and conditions for Cooks Gap. 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 day in Cooks Gap can still sit at protection levels. Why you burn on cloudy days.

When Cooks Gap needs sun protection

Sun protection is needed in Cooks Gap typically from September through April, and any other day UV reaches 3. Inland heat or a cool change does not change the UV index; go by the number, not how the day feels.

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.

The UV scale at a glance

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

Local support in New South Wales

Cancer Council NSW: Sun-safety programs and skin-cancer support across New South Wales.

Frequently asked questions

When does Cooks Gap need sun protection?: Whenever the UV index is 3 or above. In Cooks Gap that is typically from September through April, and any other day UV reaches 3. SunSmart and ARPANSA use the same rule Australia-wide.
Does Cooks Gap need sun protection in winter?: Not every day. Midwinter middays in Cooks Gap often sit below UV 3, but clear late-winter days (from August in much of New South Wales) cross the threshold before the weather feels like spring. Check the live index.
Can you burn on a cool day in Cooks Gap?: Yes. UV is not heat. A cool, windy or lightly cloudy day in Cooks Gap can still sit at UV 3 or above, especially from spring through autumn. Temperature on this page is for context only; the UV number is what decides protection.