The hourly forecast is an estimate; clouds, ozone, altitude, and reflection can move individual hours above the displayed value.
A low hourly reading is not risk-free, and UV can stay high under cloud cover, so check protection rather than the weather icon.
No hour makes tanning medically safe; this is planning guidance, not medical advice, and medication or recent procedures can raise your real risk.
Hourly UV planner
Hourly UV Index
The hourly UV Index shows how strong the sun is hour by hour, which matters more for tanning and burn decisions than the single daily maximum. UV usually climbs toward midday and falls in the afternoon, so the same day can hold a low-risk morning window and a high-risk peak. Plan around the hourly curve and the UV 3+ protection threshold; these are estimates, not medical advice.
Beats daily max Why hourly: A high daily peak can sit in a narrow window; the curve shows the rest.
Midday peak Usual shape: UV climbs with sun angle, peaks near solar noon, then falls.
UV 3 Act from: WHO recommends protection once any hour crosses into UV 3 or higher.
Good to know before you go out
The practical safety context for this page, in plain language.
Why the hourly curve beats the daily maximum
A daily maximum tells you the worst hour, but not when it happens or how long it lasts. Tanning and burn decisions are made by the hour, so the curve is the more useful tool. The EPA bands stay fixed by hour: 0-2 low, 3-5 moderate, 6-7 high, and 8 and above very high to extreme, so each hour gets its own protection context.
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Find the peak and avoid it
UV usually peaks near solar noon. A short, monitored sun window often fits better in the morning or late afternoon, where the hourly band may sit lower than the daily max suggests.
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Watch whether UV is still rising
Two hours can share the same band while one is climbing and one is falling. A rising curve means burn risk is increasing, so plan earlier reminders than the number alone implies.
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Match each hour to skin type and SPF
The same hourly UV is not the same for everyone. Use Fitzpatrick type and your SPF plan to read the curve, since the FDA describes SPF as risk reduction, not permission to extend a session.
Using hourly UV without chasing a safe hour
The hourly view is for risk-managed planning, not for finding a safe hour to burn toward a tan. Pick a window where UV is present but below the day's peak band, keep protection on, and stop before any redness. WHO links excessive UV exposure with sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts, and premature aging, so TanPilot stays with conservative, estimate-based guidance across every hour.
UV bands TanPilot uses
These bands anchor the advice language across timing, SPF, and burn-risk pages.
0-2
Low
3-5
Moderate
6-7
High
8-10
Very high
11+
Extreme
- 0-2 Low
- Usually lower risk for the average adult, with extra care still useful around reflection, altitude, or very sun-sensitive skin.
- 3-5 Moderate
- Protection starts to matter. WHO recommends sun protection when the UV Index is 3 or higher.
- 6-7 High
- Plan shorter exposure windows, avoid the daily peak, and use shade, clothing, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- 8-10 Very high
- Burn risk can rise quickly, especially near midday. Treat tanning time as a short, monitored exposure.
- 11+ Extreme
- Extra protection is needed. TanPilot should nudge toward shade-first planning rather than longer exposure.
Questions
Short answers for the exact search intent, without hiding the safety caveats.
Why does the hourly UV Index matter more than the daily max?
The daily max is just the single worst hour. Tanning and burn decisions happen by the hour, so the curve shows when UV is low enough for a more manageable window and when it peaks, which a single number hides.
What hour has the highest UV Index?
UV usually peaks near solar noon, when the sun is highest, then falls through the afternoon. The exact peak shifts with season, latitude, daylight saving, clouds, and altitude, so read your local hourly curve.
Is morning or afternoon UV lower?
Both sides of midday often forecast lower UV than the peak, but the curve is not always symmetric because of clouds and ozone. Check the actual hourly chart rather than assuming, and protect from UV 3 upward.
Related TanPilot pages
Move from the UV number to timing, burn-risk, skin type, and app setup.