Last updated: June 2, 2025
In Wingatui, New Zealand, being aware of the UV Index is crucial for protecting your skin and overall health. Understanding UV levels helps prevent sunburn and long-term skin damage, making it essential for everyone, especially during the peak daytime hours. Wingatui, characterized by its temperate maritime climate, may not be synonymous with intense sun exposure, but it still poses its own unique UV risks. With measured levels peaking at a modest 1 during midday, it’s vital to stay informed and take appropriate precautions when outdoors, ensuring that both your skin and your time in the sun remain safe and enjoyable.
Throughout the day, the UV Index exhibits a distinct pattern, with the sun's intensity gradually increasing as the hours progress. From 07:00 to 08:00, the UV Index remains at a low level of 0, indicating minimal exposure risk. However, starting at 09:00, it slowly climbs to 1, maintaining this level until 16:00. This period, characterized by a sustained UV Index of 1, suggests that while the sun is visible, precautions like sunscreen and protective clothing are still advisable, especially during midday. As evening approaches, from 17:00 onward, the UV Index drops back to 0, signaling a return to safety from the sun's rays. It's a day that reminds us to enjoy the outdoors while staying sun-smart!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 10:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 11:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 12:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 13:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 14:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 15:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 16:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 17:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
The UV Index experiences significant seasonal variations, with the highest levels occurring in January (13) and February (11), indicating an extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, with a burn time of just 10 minutes. After this peak, the index gradually decreases, reaching a very high category in March (8) and again in October (8), and November (9), where burn times are around 15 minutes. From April to September, the index shifts to moderate levels (3-5), allowing for longer burn times of 30-45 minutes, making late spring and summer relatively safer for sun exposure. As winter approaches in December, the index rises again to extreme levels. Visitors and residents are strongly advised to take precautions during high-risk months (January, February, October, and November) by wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen, and limiting sun exposure, while remaining mindful of the moderate levels in spring and autumn months.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wingatui | 13 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| Christchurch UVI | 13 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| Wellington UVI | 13 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
| Hamilton UVI | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Manukau City UVI | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Auckland UVI | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 13 |