Last updated: May 3, 2025
In Krugersdorp, South Africa, being aware of the UV Index is crucial for protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Understanding UV levels not only helps in preventing sunburn but also plays a vital role in maintaining overall skin health. With a climate characterized as Cwb, Krugersdorp experiences significant UV exposure, particularly between 10 AM and 2 PM, when values can spike to 7. This highlights the importance of monitoring UV levels to safeguard yourself against potential risks associated with high UV radiation, ensuring your outdoor activities remain safe and enjoyable.
As the sun rises, the UV Index remains low at 1 from 07:00 to 08:00, offering a gentle start to the day. However, as the hours progress, the intensity increases, reaching 3 by 09:00 and peaking at 7 between 11:00 and 13:00. This midday surge signifies the sun's powerful rays, urging everyone to take precautions for skin protection. As the afternoon wanes, the UV Index begins to decline, dropping to 5 at 14:00, and further decreasing to 3 by 15:00. The evening brings relief, with the index falling to 1 by 16:00 and 0 from 18:00 onward. Embrace the early hours for outdoor activities, but stay vigilant during lunchtime when the sun is at its strongest!
| 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 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 12:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 13:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 14:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 15:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 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 |
The UV Index experiences significant seasonal fluctuations, with extreme levels dominating the first half of the year. Notably, January to April show consistent UV Index readings of 16 to 13, indicating high risk for sunburn and necessitating cautious exposure management, with a brief burn time of just 10 minutes. The summer months of May to July witness a slight decrease, with UV levels dropping to a high category, allowing for a safer burn time of 25 minutes. However, August spikes again to 9, categorizing it as very high with a burn time of only 15 minutes. As the year transitions into September to November, UV levels again surge into the extreme category, reinforcing the need for vigilance as burn times revert to 10 minutes. Residents and visitors are advised to take necessary precautions, especially during high-risk months (January to April and September to November) by applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and limiting sun exposure to minimize the risk of skin damage.
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 |
| 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 |
| Krugersdorp | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 |