UV index in Chicago today
Live UV level in Chicago, Illinois right now, today's hourly forecast, and how long until your skin type burns.
Where are you?
Checking the sun…
Couldn’t load UV data.
View as table
| Hour | UV index | Level |
|---|
☀️ Get tomorrow's UV before it gets you
One short email each morning with your city's peak UV, when it hits, and whether you need sunscreen that day. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
When is UV highest in Chicago?
UV peaks around solar noon — roughly 12–2pm local time. Seasonally, UV in Chicago peaks May through September. In that peak period, summer UV in Chicago typically peaks in the high to very high range (6–9) around midday.
In December and January, UV in Chicago usually stays in the low range, and sunburn risk is minimal outside of snow-reflection or high-altitude situations.
Typical midday peak UV by month
| Month | Typical peak | Level |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2.1 | Low |
| February | 3.4 | Moderate |
| March | 4.6 | Moderate |
| April | 5.5 | Moderate |
| May | 6.6 | High |
| June | 7.1 | High |
| July | 7.1 | High |
| August | 6.6 | High |
| September | 5.5 | Moderate |
| October | 4 | Moderate |
| November | 2.5 | Low |
| December | 1.9 | Low |
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 Chicago 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.