Last updated: June 2, 2025
Understanding the UV Index is crucial for residents and visitors in Ganyesa, South Africa, where the BSh climate brings long, sunny days. Being aware of UV levels directly impacts your skin health and helps in preventing sunburn—a crucial step for enjoying the great outdoors safely. During peak hours, particularly from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, UV exposure can rise to levels that pose risks to unprotected skin. With maximum UV Index values reaching 6, it’s important to be prepared and take preventive measures to protect yourself while basking in Ganyesa’s beautiful sun.
The UV Index over the day shows a dynamic range of exposure, starting off calm in the early hours. At 07:00 and 08:00, it remains at a gentle 1, perfect for a leisurely morning. As the sun climbs higher, the index rises steadily, reaching 2 by 09:00 and peaking at 6 around 12:00, indicating caution is necessary for outdoor activities. The intensity slightly dips from there, down to 5 by 13:00 and then to 4 at 14:00, before gradually decreasing to 1 by 16:00. Finally, the UV exposure diminishes to 0 by 18:00, signaling a safe end to the day. Stay mindful of those peak hours for a fun and safe experience in 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 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 12:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 13:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 14:00 | 4 | 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 |
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 |
| Soweto UVI | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Ganyesa | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |