UV index in Chicago today
On a clear day Chicago peaks near 1pm at about 9 — the very high band — then eases toward sunset. The dial currently shows that typical reference; a usable live response replaces it. Morning and late-afternoon reference windows are usually lower than the peak.
UV index in Chicago today
Before a usable live response loads, the dial above shows a labelled typical reference for Chicago (41.88°N, 87.63°W). On a typical clear day the index builds through the morning and peaks near 1pm at about 9 — the very high band — before easing off toward sunset at 20:28. When live hydration succeeds, the card replaces the reference with a current observation and forecast. Use the verified current value, not the temperature, to decide whether it is a tan window or a cover-up hour. Lakefront breezes feel cool while the index sits very high — temperature is a poor proxy for UV here.
See also: Best time to tan in Chicago.
Plan from this UV reading
Typical 3-day UV reference
Illustrative clear-sky pattern — not a live forecast. A usable response can replace it with the provider's 3-day forecast.
UV in nearby cities
Source & freshness
This page starts with labelled typical clear-sky values for Chicago. The card attempts a current UV and forecast request through TanPilot's proxy and replaces reference values only after a usable response; failed requests leave the reference label visible. Estimates only — not medical advice.
Questions
Is it safe to tan in Chicago at midday?
Around midday Chicago typically reaches UV 9 (very high), strong enough to burn unprotected skin quickly. It is better used as shade-first time. For a gentler session, aim for the lower-UV windows around 9:00–10:30 or 17:00–18:45, and use broad-spectrum SPF. These are estimates, not medical advice.
When is UV lowest in Chicago?
UV is lowest near sunrise (5:18) and sunset (20:28) and climbs to its peak around 1pm. The morning and late-afternoon tan windows — about 9:00–10:30 and 17:00–18:45 — are the lower-UV parts of daylight that are still warm enough to be useful for a careful tan.