Last updated: August 1, 2025
In Tenexcontitlan (El Ranchito), Mexico, awareness of the UV Index is essential for maintaining skin health and preventing sunburn. Understanding daily UV levels is crucial, especially as the sun reaches its peak intensity in the early afternoon, with values soaring to 15—indicating very high risk for harm from unprotected sun exposure. The region’s temperate highland climate (Cwb) brings unique challenges, as residents and visitors may underestimate UV exposure even on cooler days. By staying informed and taking appropriate precautions, you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors while protecting your skin from potential damage.
The UV Index fluctuates throughout the day, peaking in the early afternoon. At 07:00, it starts at a safe level of 0, gradually rising to 1 by 08:00. As the sun climbs higher, the index spikes dramatically, reaching 5 by 10:00 and soaring to a striking 12 at noon. The intensity peaks further at 13:00 with a maximum of 14, and then hits a scorching high of 15 at 14:00. As the day progresses, the UV levels begin to taper off; they drop to 13 at 15:00, then decline steadily, hitting 6 by 17:00 and tapering down to 1 by 19:00. These numbers remind us to take care during the midday hours when sun protection is essential!
| 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 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 12:00 | 11 | extreme | 10 min |
| 13:00 | 14 | extreme | 10 min |
| 14:00 | 14 | extreme | 10 min |
| 15:00 | 12 | extreme | 10 min |
| 16:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 17:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 18:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
During the year, UV exposure varies significantly, with the highest risk occurring from February to October, where the UV Index consistently reaches 12 or higher, classifying it as extreme. Particularly high-risk months include March, April, May, June, July, August, and September, all maintaining an index of 14 or higher, thus posing a burn time of merely 10 minutes. In contrast, January, November, and December exhibit lower, though still very high, UV levels, with burn times stretching to 15 minutes. Residents and visitors are strongly advised to take precautions such as wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak hours, especially in the high-risk months to mitigate the significantly increased risk of skin damage.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalajara UVI | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Tenexcontitlan (El Ranchito) | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Iztapalapa UVI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Ecatepec de Morelos UVI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Mexico City UVI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Puebla UVI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 9 |