howmuchsun

UV index and sunburn time, by city

How strong the sun gets where you are, and how long unprotected skin lasts before it burns. UV intensity depends on how high the sun climbs, how much ozone sits above you and how high up you are — so it differs for every city and every month.

1,233 cities across 237 countries, each with peak UV by month, burn times for all six Fitzpatrick skin types, and an hour-by-hour picture of when the sun is strongest.

Reading the UV index

IndexCategoryWhat it means
1–2LowSafe for most people. No protection needed.
3–5ModerateSeek shade at midday. Protection advised.
6–7HighProtection required. Fair skin burns within the hour.
8–10Very highExtra protection. Avoid the sun in the middle of the day.
11+ExtremeUnprotected skin burns in minutes.

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