What is the UV index in Johannesburg today?

See today's UV index for Johannesburg hour by hour above. The UV index is highest around solar noon and depends on the season, the weather and how high the sun rises above the horizon.

When is the UV index highest?

The UV index peaks around solar noon, typically between 12:00 and 15:00, when the sun is highest in the sky. About two-thirds of the day’s total UV falls between 10:00 and 16:00.

When should you use sunscreen?

The WHO recommends sun protection whenever the UV index is 3 or higher. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30, seek shade around midday, and wear sunglasses and a hat when UV is high.

Daylight Hours

UV Index in Johannesburg Today

August 13, 2026 · Johannesburg, South Africa

2,026,469 people

See today's UV index in Johannesburg hour by hour below. The UV index shows how strong the sun's ultraviolet radiation is — the higher the number, the faster skin can burn. Values are calculated for Johannesburg's coordinates and updated daily.

UV now · 04:00

0Low

UV rises later today

Peak today7at 12:00

Protect yourself09:23–13:42UV 3 or above

Time to burn~25 minfair skin, unprotected

Hour by hour

Protection windowClear sky

Remember today

Sunscreen SPF 30+
Sunglasses
Hat
Shade at midday

Daylight: sunrise 06:40 – sunset 17:48

Tomorrow: UV 7 at its peak around 12:00

Calculate for Johannesburg Use my location

The UV index in Johannesburg peaks at 7 (high) around 12:00 today. Sun protection is recommended between 09:23 and 13:42, while the index stays at 3 or above. Tomorrow the index is forecast to peak at 7 around 12:00.

UV index in Johannesburg hour by hour

Time	UV index	Level
06:00	0	Low
07:00	0.1	Low
08:00	0.7	Low
09:00	2.2	Low
10:00	4.3	Moderate
11:00	6	High
12:00	6.7	High
13:00	4.9	Moderate
14:00	2.2	Low
15:00	1.6	Low
16:00	0.7	Low
17:00	0.2	Low
18:00	0	Low

UV index in Johannesburg

Johannesburg lies at 26°S. The midday sun reaches 49.1° above the horizon in Johannesburg today, against a yearly ceiling of 87.2°. Elevation is what sets the ceiling for UV, and over Johannesburg it is so steep that the rays take the shortest possible path through the atmosphere, and the index can reach extreme values.

What is the UV index?

The UV index is an international scale describing the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation at ground level. It starts at 0 and is effectively open-ended — at mid-latitudes it rarely exceeds 8, while in the tropics and high in the mountains it can pass 11. The higher the number, the less time it takes to get sunburnt.

The UV index depends mainly on how high the sun is in the sky. That is why it peaks around solar noon and is greatest in summer near the longest day of the year. Clouds, ozone, altitude and reflection from snow or water also affect the value.

The WHO UV scale

UV index	Level	Recommendation
0–2	Low	No special protection needed.
3–5	Moderate	Use sunscreen (SPF 30+), seek shade around midday.
6–7	High	Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Avoid the sun 12:00–15:00.
8–10	Very high	Extra protection. Limit midday sun exposure.
11+	Extreme	Avoid the sun at midday. Full protection required.