Last updated: June 2, 2025
In Upington, South Africa, awareness of the UV Index is crucial for protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. With its BWh climate, characterized by hot and dry conditions, understanding the daily UV levels can help residents and visitors alike prevent sunburn and maintain long-term skin health. The UV Index peaks around midday, reaching levels of 5 between 12:00 and 13:00, highlighting the need for sun safety measures during these hours. By staying informed, you can enjoy the sunny days in Upington while keeping your skin safe from potential damage.
The UV Index data reveals a dynamic progression throughout the day. Starting at 0 at 7:00 AM, the intensity begins to rise slowly, reaching 1 by 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. By 10:00 AM, it escalates to 3, indicating a moderate level of UV exposure. 11:00 AM sees the index peak at 4, and the sun reaches its zenith by noon with a UV Index of 5, marking a high risk level. The afternoon maintains this peak at 5 until 1:00 PM, before gradually declining to 4 at 2:00 PM and further down to 3 by 3:00 PM. As the sun sets, the UV radiation drops sharply, returning to 1 at 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and finally back to 0 from 6:00 PM onward. Awareness of these fluctuations can guide outdoor plans, ensuring protection during the peak UV hours!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 09:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 10:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 12:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 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 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 |