UV index in Nashville in January
In January, the UV index in Nashville typically peaks around 2.8 at midday — low on the WHO scale — with individual days reaching 4 in recent years. Most people won’t need sun protection on a typical day.
How fast would you burn?
Estimated time to sunburn in unprotected midday sun at UV 2.8:
| Skin type | Time to burn |
|---|---|
| I — Very fair | ~48 min |
| II — Fair | ~1h |
| III — Medium | ~1h 25m |
| IV — Olive | ~1h 45m |
Estimates from typical minimal erythemal doses — see methodology. Darker types (V–VI) burn slower still. Reflection off water or sand shortens all of these.
What to do about it
- Sunscreen is optional for most people — UV stays below the protection threshold on a typical day.
- Useful exception: snow, water, or altitude can bounce UV above the forecast, so pack SPF if that’s your trip.
- This is also too little UV for meaningful vitamin D — worth knowing if you’re visiting for months.
Planning a trip? Check the live UV index in Nashville closer to your dates — day-to-day cloud cover moves the real number around this average.
Nashville's UV year at a glance
| Month | Typical midday peak | Level |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2.8 | Low |
| February | 3.8 | Moderate |
| March | 5.1 | Moderate |
| April | 6.3 | High |
| May | 6.9 | High |
| June | 7.6 | High |
| July | 7.5 | High |
| August | 7.2 | High |
| September | 5.8 | Moderate |
| October | 4.7 | Moderate |
| November | 3.2 | Moderate |
| December | 2.7 | Low |
The strongest month is June (typical peak 7.6); the gentlest is December (typical peak 2.7).
← December · Nashville live · February →
☀️ 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.