Sun will shine on Melbourne Cup, as city enters sunscreen season

Pull out your sunscreen. Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday will be an above-average 27 degrees, with only a 5 per cent chance of rain.

The sunny forecast will be welcome news for Victorians who want to make the most of the public holiday, whether at the beach, a barbecue or the Birdcage.

Jamie Kah wins riding Another Wil on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

The average November temperature in Melbourne is usually 22 degrees, but on Tuesday it’s tipped to peak at 27, rising to 33 on Wednesday.

“Tuesday’s looking at being a warm, mostly sunny day,” said Belinda House from the Bureau of Meteorology. “Easy weather to be outside enjoying yourself.”

There’s a chance of fog about the nearby hills early on Tuesday morning, with light winds becoming north-west to north-easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon.

“But Wednesday, be aware that the temperatures are warming up. It’s going to become a little windy from the north and there is the risk of some showers and thunderstorms coming through,” House said.

It’s sunscreen season in Melbourne. Credit: Shutterstock

The UV index for the coming days is a very high 9, as Melburnians enter sunscreen season, which goes until March or April.

“We’re in that time of the year, that regardless of the temperature, be aware that if you’re outside for extended periods of time, you need sunscreen,” House said.

“People mistakenly tie the risk of the UV with the temperatures. But it’s not related at all; it’s the time of the year. So we’re definitely into the time of the year, through to the end of summer and early autumn.

“You get sunburnt on the hotter days because you’re out in the sun for long periods of time. It’s not related to the temperature.”

Age racing reporter Danny Russell said the weather meant a fair, even track for the Cup on Tuesday.

“It will be classed a ‘good’ surface as opposed to soft or heavy, so every horse gets a fair chance,” he said. “But it is a slight concern for the Irish and European horses as they are not used to running on such warm days.”

The weather bureau recently predicted the climate for November to February would be wetter and warmer than average across most of the country.

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