Last updated: May 3, 2025
Understanding the UV Index is vital for residents and visitors in Catral, Spain, where the sun's rays can intensify rapidly, especially during peak hours. Awareness of UV levels is essential for sunburn prevention and maintaining long-term skin health, helping you protect yourself from the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure. With a BSk climate, Catral experiences bright, sunny days, leading to higher UV exposure risks, particularly around midday when the index reaches its peak at 10. Knowing the UV Index can empower you to enjoy the beautiful weather while safeguarding your skin!
As the sun rises, the UV Index begins to climb steadily throughout the morning, starting at a mild 1 at 07:00 and peaking at 10 between 13:00 and 14:00. This signifies a significant risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, urging folks to seek shade and slather on the sunscreen. Hours 10:00 and 11:00 see a sharp increase to 4 and 6, while midday brings the highest intensity at 8 and 10, marking a crucial time for sun safety. As afternoon transitions to evening, the index gradually declines, offering some relief, landing at 3 by 18:00. By nightfall, the risk wanes, falling back to 2. Remember, keeping aware of this UV trend is vital for staying safe 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 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 11:00 | 6 | high | 25 min |
| 12:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 13:00 | 10 | very high | 15 min |
| 14:00 | 10 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 16:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 17:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 18:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 19:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
As the seasons change, so too does the UV Index, resulting in varying levels of skin exposure risk. From January to March, the UV Index begins to rise, peaking at 6 in March, moving into a high exposure category with a burn time of just 25 minutes. The high-risk months of April through July see dramatic increases, with May and June reaching very high and extreme levels at 10 and 12, respectively, necessitating caution with burn times decreasing to as low as 10 minutes. As summer wanes, September and October still present significant risks, with indices of 9 and 7, although the burn times improve slightly. Conversely, November and December afford a reprieve, returning to a moderate exposure category with a UV Index of 4 and 3, allowing for a safer 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Visitors and residents are advised to take proactive sun protection measures, especially between April and July, including using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak sunlight hours.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona UVI | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Zaragoza UVI | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Valencia UVI | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Madrid UVI | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Catral | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Sevilla UVI | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 |