Washington, District of Columbia UV Index
Washington UV index today — burn time, EPA scale, and sun-protection guidance
Washington, DC · UV Index right now
No burn risk right now
UV 2.8Extreme
A UV index of 2.8 sits in the EPA Extreme band: sunburn risk is minimal for most people, and no sun protection is needed for the average person outdoors.
Peak UV today: 11:14 AM–3:14 PM
Estimated from today’s sunrise and sunset: UV is strongest in the two hours either side of solar noon (1:14 PM local time).
EPA UV Index scale
Current reading: UV 2.8 — Extreme.
Sun protection right now
- SPF & cover-up
- Take all precautions: SPF 50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, and minimize sun exposure midday.
- Reapply
- Reapply every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.
- Safe exposure
- At UV below 3 there is no meaningful burn risk for most people. You can be outside without sunscreen, though sunglasses still protect your eyes.
EPA / WHO sun-safety guidance; type III skin baseline. Current band: Extreme.
Burn time by skin type
The current UV index is 2.8 (Extreme) — unprotected skin can begin to redden fastest for the fairest (Fitzpatrick type I) skin and slowest for the darkest (type VI).
See the full minutes-to-burn table for every UV level and all six skin types in the sunburn-time guide.
Sun protection for today's UV
- EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 Face Sunscreen
Broad-spectrum mineral-chemical face sunscreen. Lightweight, non-greasy — the dermatologist standby for daily high-UV exposure.
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60 Body Sunscreen
Broad-spectrum SPF 60 for arms, shoulders, and legs. Water-resistant for 80 minutes — reapply after swimming or heavy sweat.
- Coolibar UPF 50+ Long-Sleeve Swim Shirt
UPF 50+ rash guard blocks ~98% of UV. A physical layer outperforms any sunscreen on the skin it covers — no reapplication needed.
- Wallaroo UPF 50+ Wide-Brim Sun Hat
A 3-inch+ brim shades the face, ears, and neck — the spots people forget to re-apply sunscreen and where most skin cancers start.
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UV through the year in Washington
At Washington’s mid-latitude the sun’s height swings widely through the year, and UV runs strongest in May, when the estimated clear-sky peak UV index reaches about 11 around solar noon. At that peak the noon sun reaches about 70° above the horizon. Each month below pairs the noon sun elevation with the estimated peak UV and how fast unprotected skin can begin to redden.
| Month | Noon sunelevation | Peak UVclear-sky est. | Type Imin to burn | Type IIImin to burn | Type VImin to burn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 2 | — | — | — |
| February | 38° | 4 | 22 | 33 | 111 |
| March | 49° | 6 | 15 | 22 | 74 |
| April | 61° | 9 | 10 | 15 | 49 |
| May | 70° | 11 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| June | 74° | 11 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| July | 73° | 11 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| August | 65° | 10 | 9 | 13 | 44 |
| September | 54° | 8 | 11 | 17 | 56 |
| October | 43° | 5 | 18 | 27 | 89 |
| November | 33° | 3 | 30 | 44 | 148 |
| December | 28° | 2 | — | — | — |
Clear-sky estimate from sun angle and elevation — day-to-day clouds and ozone shift the real index up or down. Burn times are first-redness approximations for unprotected skin, not a safe-exposure budget.
Frequently asked
- When is UV strongest in Washington?
- In Washington the sun rides highest around May, when the estimated clear-sky peak UV index reaches about 11. Within any day it peaks near solar noon — roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. It is also stronger at higher elevation and near reflective surfaces like water, sand, and snow.
- Can you get sunburned on a cloudy day in Washington?
- Yes. Up to about 80% of UV radiation passes through clouds, so you can still burn in Washington on an overcast day. The WHO notes that thin or scattered cloud offers little protection — check the UV Index, not the sky.
UV & sun-safety guides
See how the UV Index works — including why clouds are no shield — plus evergreen guides to burn time, vitamin D, skin-cancer risk, and when UV is strongest, collected on the UV Index hub.
More for Washington
See the full Washington, DC weather forecast — hour-by-hour outlook, NOAA radar, satellite, and air quality.