Last updated: June 2, 2025
Understanding the UV Index is crucial for residents of Middelburg, South Africa, where the climate often leads to heightened sun exposure. With UV levels peaking during the midday hours, awareness of these values helps in preventing sunburn and maintaining long-term skin health. As a city in a semi-arid climate, Middelburg can experience significant UV radiation, particularly from late morning to early afternoon when protective measures are essential. By keeping an eye on the UV Index, you can enjoy the sun safely while guarding against its harmful effects.
The UV Index throughout the day shows a gradual rise and fall, peaking at 12:00 PM with a value of 5, indicating a moderate level of UV exposure. Starting from a safe 0 at 07:00 AM, the index begins to increase, reaching 3 by 10:00 AM and climbing to 4 at 11:00 AM. As the sun reaches its zenith, the UV Index hits its max at 12:00 PM, before gradually declining to 4 at 1:00 PM and then to 3 by 2:00 PM. After that, it gently descends to 1 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, before dropping back to 0 by 6:00 PM as the sun sets. Overall, the day presents varied UV levels, reminding us to stay protected during those peak hours!
| 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 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 12:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 13:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 14:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 15:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 16:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 17:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
Throughout the year, UV exposure varies significantly, with the highest risk months occurring from January to March, where the UV Index consistently reaches 15 (extreme) and has a burn time of just 10 minutes. Following this, April presents a slight decrease to a UV Index of 9 (very high), with a burn time of 15 minutes, while May sees it drop to 6 (high) with a longer burn time of 25 minutes. As summer arrives, June and July maintain a moderate UV Index of 5, allowing for safer outdoor activity with a burn time of 30 minutes. However, August brings a return to high risk at 7, followed by a significant rise again in September (very high at 10) and a jump to extreme levels in October and November (14-16), where burn times shorten back to 10 minutes. Visitors and residents should take precautions during high risk months by wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen frequently, and minimizing direct sun exposure, especially during peak hours, to safeguard their skin health.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town UVI | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Durban UVI | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
| Middelburg | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Johannesburg UVI | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
| Pretoria UVI | 16 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Soweto UVI | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |