Last updated: June 2, 2025
In Mumias, Kenya, awareness of the UV Index is crucial for safeguarding your skin and overall health. The UV Index provides essential insights into the strength of ultraviolet rays, helping residents and visitors alike in sunburn prevention and promoting long-term skin health. With a typically warm climate characterized by strong sunlight throughout the year, understanding UV levels is vital, particularly during midday hours when the index peaks at 11, indicating a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. By staying informed about the UV Index, you can better protect yourself and enjoy the beauty of Mumias while minimizing your risk of skin damage.
The UV Index reveals an exciting yet cautionary tale of sun exposure throughout the day. Early risers will find gentle UV levels at 1 from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, perfect for a leisurely breakfast outdoors. As the sun climbs higher, the index surges past 3 at 9:00 AM and peaks dramatically at 11 by 12:00 PM, signaling a prime time for sun protection. The intensity remains elevated with another 11 at 1:00 PM, making midday a critical window for sunscreen and shade. The UV levels then gracefully descend, slipping to 9 at 2:00 PM and tapering down through the afternoon, reaching back to 1 by 6:00 PM, before finally winding down to 0 after sunset at 7:00 PM. It’s a vivid reminder to balance enjoyment in the sun with safety!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 10:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 11:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 12:00 | 11 | extreme | 10 min |
| 13:00 | 11 | extreme | 10 min |
| 14:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 16:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 17:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
Throughout the year, the UV Index remains consistently high in this region, indicating extreme exposure levels particularly from January to April, where the index peaks at 16 in March. As summer approaches, the UV Index slightly decreases, stabilizing around 11 to 13 from June to October, but still implies a high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. November and December also maintain a high index of 13 and 12, respectively. Visitors and residents are strongly advised to take precautions, such as wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and seeking shade, especially during the high-risk months of January through April when the burn time is only 10 minutes. Staying informed and vigilant is essential to mitigate the risks associated with extreme UV exposure year-round.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa UVI | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Mumias | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Kikuyu UVI | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Ruiru UVI | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Nairobi UVI | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Nakuru UVI | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |