Last updated: July 2, 2025
In Maria Elena, Chile, being mindful of the UV Index is crucial for safeguarding your skin and overall health. Understanding UV levels helps you prevent sunburn and long-term skin damage, especially as the sun’s intensity peaks around midday. With a BWk climate, Maria Elena experiences high UV exposure risks, particularly between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, when the UV Index can soar to 8 and even 9. Staying informed about these conditions is key to enjoying the beautiful sunny days while protecting yourself from harmful rays.
The UV Index paints a vivid picture of sun exposure throughout the day. Starting with a zero at 07:00, the day gradually awakens with a gentle rise to 1 by 08:00. As the sun climbs higher, the index surges to a moderate 2 at 09:00, but the real intensity strikes at 11:00, peaking at 8 and reaching its maximum of 9 by 13:00. This sun-soaked afternoon prompts a decrease, with readings falling to 7 at 14:00 and gradually tapering to 5 by 15:00. The evening brings a welcome decline as the index sinks back to 1 at 17:00, before ultimately returning to 0 by 19:00. With such variations throughout the hours, it’s a reminder to embrace sun safety during those peak UV moments!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 10:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 12:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 13:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 14:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 15:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 16:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 17:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
Throughout the year, the UV Index demonstrates significant seasonal variability, with extreme values typically occurring from January to April and then again in September to December. The highest risk months, characterized by a UV Index of 17, are from January to February and again in October to November, indicating a very short burn time of just 10 minutes. March and September also present elevated risk with indices of 15 and 13, respectively. In contrast, the summer months of May through August show a moderate reduction in UV levels, though they remain classified as either very high or high, with burn times up to 25 minutes in June. Visitors and residents are strongly advised to take precautions during high UV periods, particularly in the extreme months, by wearing sun protection, such as clothing, hats, and sunscreen, and by seeking shade whenever possible to minimize the risk of skin damage.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago UVI | 14 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Valparaiso UVI | 14 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Vina del Mar UVI | 14 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Puente Alto UVI | 15 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Antofagasta UVI | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| Maria Elena | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 |