WEATHER · UV INDEX
UV Index
The UV index painted worldwide \u2014 the strength of the Sun\u2019s skin-damaging ultraviolet reaching the ground, from 0 (none) to 11+ (extreme), on the standard WHO colour scale. Highest near the equator, at altitude and around midday. Tap the map for the local value; runs forward along the forecast timeline.
What it shows
The UV index measures the strength of the Sun\u2019s skin-damaging ultraviolet radiation reaching the ground, on a single worldwide scale that normally runs from 0 to about 11 or more. A higher number means unprotected skin burns faster. It is highest near the equator, at high altitude and around solar noon, and drops to zero at night. The field is painted worldwide from the Copernicus CAMS model.
How to read it
The colours follow the standard WHO scale: green is low (0-2, no protection needed), yellow-gold is moderate (3-5), orange is high (6-7), red is very high (8-10) and violet is extreme (11+). Watch the band of strongest UV track the subsolar point around the tropics through the day, and note how it spikes over high mountains and the summer hemisphere. Tap the map for the value at a spot. Remember it peaks in the few hours either side of midday, which is why \u201cavoid the midday sun\u201d is such durable advice.
SEE IT LIVE
Open the full weather console with uv index on, then stack other overlays and scrub the forecast.