Last updated: June 2, 2025
In Hornsby, Australia, awareness of the UV Index is crucial for protecting your skin and promoting overall health. Understanding the UV levels throughout the day can help you avoid sunburn and reduce the risk of long-term skin damage. Hornsby's Cfa climate offers plenty of sunshine, but with this comes the responsibility to stay informed about exposure risks, especially during peak hours when the UV Index reaches levels of 2 to 3. By keeping an eye on the UV Index, you can enjoy the great outdoors while prioritizing your skin's safety.
During the day, the UV Index showcases a gradual rise as the sun ascends, peaking at 3 between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Early morning hours, specifically at 07:00 AM and 08:00 AM, maintain a gentle level of 1, making it relatively safe to be outdoors without sun protection. As you step out around 9:00 AM, the index nudges to 2, indicating a slight increase in UV exposure. From 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, it reaches its highest point, suggesting that sun safety measures, such as sunscreen or protective clothing, become essential. By 2:00 PM, a decrease begins, returning to 1 by 15:00 PM, and fading further to 0 after 5:00 PM, marking a decline in UV intensity as the day winds down. Overall, early risers will enjoy a low UV risk, while midday sun seekers should take precautions to stay safe!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 10:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 12:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 13:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 14:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 15:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 16:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 17:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
Throughout the year, UV Index levels fluctuate significantly, indicating varying degrees of sun exposure risk. High-risk months include January, February, March, November, and December, with an extreme exposure category and a burn time of just 10 minutes, necessitating caution for those outdoors. April and September follow closely, categorized as very high with a burn time of 15 minutes. Exposure lessens during May and June, where the UV Index drops to moderate, allowing for safer outdoor activities with a burn time of 30 minutes. However, as summer ends and fall approaches, the UV levels spike again in October. Visitors and residents are advised to take appropriate precautions during the high-risk months, such as wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and applying sunscreen frequently to mitigate the risks associated with extreme UV exposure.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne UVI | 14 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 |
| Adelaide UVI | 14 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 15 |
| Sydney UVI | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| Hornsby | 14 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| Perth UVI | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| Brisbane UVI | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 |