Last updated: July 2, 2025
Understanding the UV Index in Fochville, South Africa, is essential for protecting your skin and overall health. With the sun reaching its peak intensity during the midday hours, awareness of UV levels can help prevent painful sunburns and reduce the long-term risks of skin damage. Fochville’s Cwb climate brings a unique blend of sunny days and seasonal variations, making it crucial for residents and visitors alike to monitor UV exposure. As the UV Index peaks at a level of 6 around noon, it's vital to take precautions during these hours to ensure safe sun exposure. Stay informed and safeguard your skin against harmful UV rays!
As the sun rises, the UV Index remains low, peaking only at 1 until 9:00 AM. A gradual increase sees it reach 6 by noon, indicating peak sun intensity. The high point of 6 persists until 1:00 PM, making this the ideal time to take precautions if you're outdoors. After this, the index begins to decline, dropping to 4 by 2:00 PM and falling further to 1 by 4:00 PM. By the evening, the UV levels settle at 0, ensuring a safe outdoor experience. Remember, during the midday hours, it’s crucial to stay protected under the sun!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 10:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 12:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 13:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 14:00 | 4 | 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 radiation exposure exhibits significant seasonal variations, with the highest risk months peaking in January, February, and March, where the UV Index reaches an extreme level of 16 to 13, allowing for a dangerously short burn time of just 10 minutes. The trend continues into April and September, which also maintain an extreme UV Index of 11. As summer approaches, a slight decrease in UV Index is observed in May to July, with values ranging from 6 to 7, indicating a high exposure risk but allowing for longer burn times of 25 minutes. However, high caution is advised during August when the UV Index spikes back to 8 (very high). As the year closes, November and December mirror the extreme levels seen at the start of the year, necessitating constant vigilance. Therefore, visitors and residents should adopt protective measures, such as wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, especially during peak UV times, and seek shade whenever possible, particularly in the high-risk months of January through March and September through November.
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 |
| Fochville | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Soweto UVI | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |