Last updated: May 3, 2025
Living in Upington, South Africa, means enjoying abundant sunshine, but it also underscores the importance of UV Index awareness for your skin health. Understanding UV levels not only helps in preventing painful sunburns but also reduces the long-term risks of skin damage and skin cancer. Upington's BWh climate delivers intense sun exposure, particularly during the midday hours when the UV Index peaks at 7—a significant risk for unprotected skin. By staying informed about the UV Index, residents can take proactive measures to protect themselves while enjoying the magnificent outdoors.
The UV Index throughout the day exhibits a dynamic rise and fall, peaking at 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM with a notable intensity of 7—a reminder of the importance of sun safety during midday hours. Starting off the day, the readings are mild, with 1 recorded at 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, gradually escalating to a moderate 4 by 10:00 AM. As the sun reaches its zenith, the intensity spikes to a significant 6 at 11:00 AM, before hitting the peak. The afternoon sees a decline; by 2:00 PM, the Index drops to 5, followed by a gentle descent to 1 by 5:00 PM and fading to 0 as daylight wanes after 6:00 PM. This hourly journey reminds us to stay vigilant during peak sun hours while enjoying the great outdoors.
| 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 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 12:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 13:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 14:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 15:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 16:00 | 2 | 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 index levels exhibit significant seasonal variation, with the highest values occurring during the winter months. January and February lead with extreme UV indices of 15 and 16, respectively, allowing only 10 minutes of safe sun exposure. Following closely, March also remains extreme at 13. As spring progresses into April, the UV Index drops to 10 (very high) but still necessitates caution with a 15-minute burn time. In contrast, the summer months of June and July experience a moderate UV Index of 5, slightly increasing to 8 in August. However, the risk climbs again in September, registering an extreme index of 11, along with October and November at 13 and 14 respectively, returning to 10-minute burn times. Given this data, visitors and residents are strongly advised to exercise increased sun safety measures—especially from January to March, and again in September to November—to reduce the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage, particularly during high-risk months marked by extreme UV levels.
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 |
| Upington | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 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 |