UV Index in New York Today
September 26, 2026 · New York, USA
8,175,133 people
See today's UV index in New York 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 New York's coordinates and updated daily.
No protection needed
Hour by hour
Clouds cut the peak by ~62%Clear sky
Remember today
- Safe to be outside unprotected
Daylight: sunrise 06:48 – sunset 18:48
Tomorrow: UV 1 at its peak around 13:00
The UV index in New York peaks at 2 (low) around 12:00 today. The index stays below 3 all day, so no particular sun protection is needed. Cloud cover is damping the peak by roughly 62% compared with a clear sky. Tomorrow the index is forecast to peak at 1 around 13:00.
UV index in New York hour by hour
| Time | UV index | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 0 | Low |
| 07:00 | 0 | Low |
| 08:00 | 0.1 | Low |
| 09:00 | 0.5 | Low |
| 10:00 | 0.8 | Low |
| 11:00 | 1.2 | Low |
| 12:00 | 2.1 | Low |
| 13:00 | 1.9 | Low |
| 14:00 | 1.7 | Low |
| 15:00 | 1.2 | Low |
| 16:00 | 0.7 | Low |
| 17:00 | 0.3 | Low |
| 18:00 | 0.1 | Low |
| 19:00 | 0 | Low |
UV index in New York
New York lies at 41°N. The midday sun reaches 48.0° above the horizon in New York today, against a yearly ceiling of 72.7°. Elevation is what sets the ceiling for UV, and over New York it is high enough for the index to reach very high values through the summer months. New York is on the coast, where water and sand reflect UV back up at you and the sea breeze hides the heat that would otherwise send you into the shade.
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. |