What is the UV index in Washington, D.C. today?

See today's UV index for Washington, D.C. 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.

UV Index in Washington, D.C. Today

September 3, 2026 · Washington, D.C., USA

Capital601,723 people

See today's UV index in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.'s coordinates and updated daily.

UV now · 06:00

0Low

UV rises later today

Peak today7at 13:00

Protect yourself09:53–16:09UV 3 or above

Time to burn~25 minfair skin, unprotected

Hour by hour

Clouds cut the peak by ~12%

Protection windowClear sky

Remember today

Sunscreen SPF 30+
Sunglasses
Hat
Shade at midday

Daylight: sunrise 06:40 – sunset 19:37

Tomorrow: UV 6 at its peak around 13:00

Calculate for Washington, D.C.Use my location

The UV index in Washington, D.C. peaks at 7 (high) around 13:00 today. Sun protection is recommended between 09:53 and 16:09, while the index stays at 3 or above. Cloud cover is damping the peak by roughly 12% compared with a clear sky. Tomorrow the index is forecast to peak at 6 around 13:00.

UV index in Washington, D.C. hour by hour

Time	UV index	Level
06:00	0	Low
07:00	0.1	Low
08:00	0.6	Low
09:00	1.6	Low
10:00	3.2	Moderate
11:00	4.9	Moderate
12:00	6.1	High
13:00	6.7	High
14:00	6.6	High
15:00	5.3	Moderate
16:00	3.3	Moderate
17:00	1.3	Low
18:00	0.4	Low
19:00	0.1	Low
20:00	0	Low

UV index in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. lies at 39°N. The midday sun reaches 58.6° above the horizon in Washington, D.C. today, against a yearly ceiling of 74.5°. Elevation is what sets the ceiling for UV, and over Washington, D.C. it is high enough for the index to reach very high values through the summer months.

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.