Last updated: July 2, 2025
Understanding the UV Index in Santa Barbara, Honduras, is crucial for protecting your skin and overall health. With the region's tropical climate, UV levels can soar, especially during peak hours, making sunburn and long-term skin damage serious risks for locals and visitors alike. From moderate levels in the early morning to a staggering 14 at noon, awareness of these fluctuations helps ensure proper sun protection strategies are in place. By staying informed about UV exposure, you can enjoy the beautiful sunshine of Santa Barbara while safeguarding your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation.
The UV Index throughout the day shows a significant rise, peaking dramatically between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, when it reaches a maximum of 14. Early morning hours start off relatively mild, with a 2 at 7:00 AM, gradually climbing to 4 by 8:00 AM. As the sun rises higher, 9:00 AM sees a notable leap to 7, followed by an intense 10 at 10:00 AM. The 11:00 AM mark escalates to 13, making the midday sun a prime time for sun protection. After this peak, the index begins to decline, tapering to 12 at 1:00 PM, and descending through the afternoon to 6 by 3:00 PM. As evening approaches, the UV Index drops sharply, concluding at 0 by 7:00 PM. This data emphasizes the importance of UV awareness during peak hours.
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 09:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 10:00 | 10 | very high | 15 min |
| 11:00 | 13 | extreme | 10 min |
| 12:00 | 14 | extreme | 10 min |
| 13:00 | 12 | extreme | 10 min |
| 14:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 6 | high | 25 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 |
The UV Index exhibits significant seasonal changes, peaking during the spring and summer months. From February through October, the UV Index consistently falls within the extreme category, particularly rising to 14 in March, April, June, July, and August, indicating a burn time of just 10 minutes. Conversely, January, November, and December experience a decrease in UV levels, categorized as very high with longer burn times of 15 minutes. Most notably, February through September are high-risk months where sun exposure should be carefully managed. Visitors and residents are strongly advised to wear sunscreen, don protective clothing, and seek shade during peak sunlight hours to mitigate the risks associated with increased UV exposure.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choloma UVI | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| San Pedro Sula UVI | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| El Progreso UVI | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Santa Barbara | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| La Ceiba UVI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Tegucigalpa UVI | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 10 |