South Africa · -33.92, 18.42
Today's peak reaches moderate levels. Unprotected skin starts to redden in about 38 min at the worst hour: shade, sunglasses and SPF 30 are enough.
About the UV index in Cape Town
Cape Town sits at 33.9° S, in the southern hemisphere. Today's UV peaks at 4.4: the "moderate" band, which uvlevel.net treats as caution for unprotected skin at the worst hour.
In the Southern Hemisphere at this latitude, UV climbs highest around December and January and eases, without disappearing, around June and July. Even the winter trough here can still cross the moderate band near midday.
Hour by hour today
| Local time | UV index | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 01:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 02:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 03:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 04:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 05:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 06:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 07:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 08:00 | 0.6 | No danger |
| 09:00 | 1.7 | No danger |
| 10:00 | 3 | Caution |
| 11:00 | 4 | Caution |
| 12:00 | 4.4 | Caution |
| 13:00 | 4.2 | Caution |
| 14:00 | 3.5 | Caution |
| 15:00 | 2.3 | No danger |
| 16:00 | 1.1 | No danger |
| 17:00 | 0.3 | No danger |
| 18:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 19:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 20:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 21:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 22:00 | 0 | No danger |
| 23:00 | 0 | No danger |
| Skin type | Time to burn |
|---|---|
| I · always burns, never tans | 30 min |
| II · burns easily | 38 min |
| III · burns sometimes | 53 min |
| IV · rarely burns | 1 h 08 min |
| V · brown skin | 1 h 31 min |
| VI · deeply pigmented | 2 h 32 min |
Next 7 days · daily peak
Frequently asked
Is the UV index dangerous in Cape Town today?
Yes. UV in Cape Town is forecast to reach 3 or higher from 10:00 to 14:25 local time today, peaking at 4.4 (estimated from solar position, live forecast data was unavailable).
What time is UV highest in Cape Town?
UV is highest in Cape Town at around 12:00 local time today, reaching 4.4 (estimated from solar position, live forecast data was unavailable).
How long can unprotected skin stay out in Cape Town today?
At today's peak of 4.4, fair skin (Fitzpatrick type II) with no sunscreen burns in about 38 min (estimated from solar position, live forecast data was unavailable). Darker skin types take longer. See the table above for every type.
Does the UV index in Cape Town change with the seasons?
In the Southern Hemisphere at this latitude, UV climbs highest around December and January and eases, without disappearing, around June and July. Even the winter trough here can still cross the moderate band near midday.
Nearby cities
Forecasts and elevation from Open-Meteo. The second UV opinion contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) information; neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for how it is used here.
uvlevel.net gives general sun-safety guidance, not medical advice. Photosensitising medication, skin conditions, infants and a history of skin cancer all call for stricter limits than shown here.