South Africa · -26.20, 28.05
Today's peak is high. Unprotected skin burns in about 25 min at the worst hour: stay in the shade around midday.
About the UV index in Johannesburg
Johannesburg sits at 26.2° S, in the southern hemisphere. Today's UV peaks at 6.8: the "high" band, which uvlevel.net treats as danger 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.
Altitude here
Johannesburg sits about 1743 m above sea level. Thinner air scatters and absorbs less UV on the way down, so uvlevel.net adds roughly 14% to the modelled index here: uv = max(weather, CAMS) × (1 + 0.08 × metres/1000). That correction is already folded into every number on this page.
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 | 0.1 | No danger |
| 08:00 | 0.7 | No danger |
| 09:00 | 2.2 | No danger |
| 10:00 | 4.2 | Caution |
| 11:00 | 6 | Caution |
| 12:00 | 6.8 | Danger |
| 13:00 | 6.7 | Danger |
| 14:00 | 6 | Danger |
| 15:00 | 4.7 | Caution |
| 16:00 | 3 | No danger |
| 17:00 | 1.2 | No danger |
| 18:00 | 0.1 | 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 | 20 min |
| II · burns easily | 25 min |
| III · burns sometimes | 34 min |
| IV · rarely burns | 44 min |
| V · brown skin | 59 min |
| VI · deeply pigmented | 1 h 38 min |
Next 7 days · daily peak
Frequently asked
Is the UV index dangerous in Johannesburg today?
Yes. UV in Johannesburg is forecast to reach 3 or higher from 09:24 to 15:58 local time today, peaking at 6.8.
What time is UV highest in Johannesburg?
UV is highest in Johannesburg at around 12:00 local time today, reaching 6.8.
How long can unprotected skin stay out in Johannesburg today?
At today's peak of 6.8, fair skin (Fitzpatrick type II) with no sunscreen burns in about 25 min. Darker skin types take longer. See the table above for every type.
Does the UV index in Johannesburg 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.