UV index in Cape Town today
Live UV level in Cape Town, South Africa right now, today's hourly forecast, and how long until your skin type burns.
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| Hour | UV index | Level |
|---|
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When is UV highest in Cape Town?
UV peaks around solar noon — roughly 12–2pm local time. Seasonally, UV in Cape Town peaks November through March. In that peak period, summer UV in Cape Town regularly reaches the very high range (8–10), and midday levels stay significant for much of the year.
Winter UV in Cape Town drops to the low-to-moderate range, but sunburn is still possible during extended midday exposure, especially at altitude or on reflective surfaces like water and sand.
Typical midday peak UV by month
| Month | Typical peak | Level |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9.2 | Very high |
| February | 8.6 | Very high |
| March | 7 | High |
| April | 5.3 | Moderate |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| June | 2.9 | Low |
| July | 3.3 | Moderate |
| August | 4.4 | Moderate |
| September | 6.2 | High |
| October | 7.7 | High |
| November | 8.9 | Very high |
| December | 9 | Very high |
Mean of daily peak UV, 2024–2025 model data. Click a month for detail on burn times and what to pack.
Do I need sunscreen in Cape Town today?
Use the live reading above: the protection threshold is UV 3. If any part of your time outdoors falls in the hours marked moderate or higher, wear SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply every two hours. Water, sand, and snow reflect UV and can push your effective exposure well above the forecast number — as does altitude, at roughly +10% per 1,000 m.