UV Hour

UV index in Cape Town right now

3.2 UV Index
Moderate UV

The next daylight peak in Cape Town is forecast at UV 3.2 around 12:00 — the moderate band. Type II skin would have about 52 min at that level. No level is risk-free — this is when to come in, not how long you may stay.

Tomorrow in Cape Town

peak UV 3.2 at 12:00 · type II has about 52 min of unprotected sun before the first redness at the peak · protection recommended (WHO) 11:44–13:05

3.2 peak UV
Moderate UV
  • 12:00 Peak UV hour tomorrow
  • 52 min Est. first redness at peak, type II
  • 11:44–13:05 Protection recommended (UV 3+, WHO)
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 07:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 18:00 3.2 protection recommended (WHO) — UV 3
Protection recommended (UV 3+, WHO) UV index
Estimated minutes of unprotected sun before the first redness in Cape Town, by skin type. An estimate, not a safety limit — skin damage builds up before any redness shows. The sun has already set where you are, so these are tomorrow’s figures.
Skin typeAt peak UV 3.2
I42 min
II52 min
III63 min
IV83 min
V1 h 44
VI2 h 05

The sun in Cape Town

Cape Town sits at 34°S between mountain and two coastlines, and its exposure comes in two forms: beach days where white sand reflects the southern summer sky, and mountain days — Table Mountain and Lion’s Head hikes climb quickly into thinner air, where each hour of walking carries a slightly higher dose than at sea level.

The summer months, November to February, pair top-of-scale midday UV with the famous Cape Doctor wind. That wind is the local trap: it keeps skin cool and dries sweat instantly, so nothing feels like burning while the dose accumulates at full speed. The mountain adds the second trap — shade is scarce on the classic hiking routes, and turning back takes as long as going on.

Time to first redness at tomorrow’s peak (UV 3.2), by skin type

Estimated minutes of unprotected sun before the first redness, at UV 3.2. An estimate, not a safe allowance — skin damage builds up before any redness shows. Below 20 minutes is in red.
Skin type Before first redness
I — Always burns, never tans. 42 min
II — Burns easily, tans minimally. 52 min
III — Burns moderately, tans gradually. 63 min
IV — Burns rarely, tans easily. 83 min
V — Burns very rarely, tans very easily. 1 h 44
VI — Almost never burns, always tans. 2 h 05

Every figure is 0.667 × MED ÷ UV, the standard erythemal formula, with the Fitzpatrick minimal erythemal doses. See the full method and its sources.

Cape Town — the questions people actually ask

What is the UV index in Cape Town right now?

This page reads the MET Norway forecast for Cape Town and refreshes every 15 minutes. The chart above shows the next daylight hours hour by hour; the answer changes through the day, which is why it is measured rather than written down.

When do you need sun protection in Cape Town tomorrow?

The WHO recommends sun protection from UV 3 upward, for every skin type. On the current forecast, Cape Town is at or above UV 3 from 11:44–13:05 local time tomorrow. Outside that span the index is lower — the dose still accumulates, just more slowly.

Can you tan in Cape Town tomorrow?

The forecast peak is about UV 3.2 at 12:00, above the roughly UV 2 threshold where melanin production starts — so the skin will respond. That response is damage: there is no risk-free tan at any level. What this page gives you is the other number — about 52 min before first redness for type II at the peak — as a point to stay well under, not a target.

Why does the sun in Cape Town feel weaker than it is?

The summer months, November to February, pair top-of-scale midday UV with the famous Cape Doctor wind. That wind is the local trap: it keeps skin cool and dries sweat instantly, so nothing feels like burning while the dose accumulates at full speed. The mountain adds the second trap — shade is scarce on the classic hiking routes, and turning back takes as long as going on. Heat and UV are different quantities: the index depends on sun angle, ozone, altitude and cloud — not on temperature, and not on wind.

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