Last updated: June 2, 2025
In Fredericton, Canada, staying informed about the UV Index is essential for protecting your skin and overall health. Understanding UV levels is crucial as they can significantly impact your risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. With Fredericton's Dfb climate, residents experience varying UV exposure throughout the year, peaking during the summer months. For instance, midday UV Index levels can soar to 9, indicating a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Being aware of these levels helps you take the necessary precautions to enjoy the outdoors safely while minimizing skin health risks.
Throughout the day, the UV Index fluctuates dramatically, peaking during the midday hours. Starting at a low of 1 at 07:00, the index rises steadily, reaching 3 by 09:00. As 10:00 approaches, it escalates to 5, but the real intensity hits between 12:00 and 14:00 when it peaks at 9. During this window, it's crucial to take sun safety precautions. As the afternoon progresses, the UV levels begin to taper off, dropping to 8 at 15:00 and gradually declining further to 3 by 18:00. Finally, the UV Index returns to its morning low of 1 by 19:00, marking a safe end to sun exposure for the day.
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 10:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 12:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 13:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 14:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 16:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 17:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 18:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 19:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
As the seasons change, so do the UV levels, significantly impacting exposure risks for residents and visitors. January and December feature low UV indexes (2), allowing for extended safe exposure times of up to 45 minutes. By February and March, the UV index rises to moderate levels (3 and 5), reducing burn time to 30 minutes. The transition to April sees a notable increase to a high UV index of 7, further shortening safe exposure time to 25 minutes. The peak months for UV exposure occur from May to August, where the index reaches very high levels (8 and 9), drastically limiting safe sun exposure to just 15 minutes. September marks a slight decline with a high index of 7, while October and November revert to moderate levels (5 and 3) with 30 minutes of safe exposure. To safeguard against harmful UV rays, it is crucial for individuals to be particularly cautious during the high-risk months of April to August, using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade whenever possible.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton UVI | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Calgary UVI | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Fredericton | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Montreal UVI | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Ottawa UVI | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Toronto UVI | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |