Coulee Dam, Washington UV Index

Coulee Dam UV index today — burn time, EPA scale, and sun-protection guidance

Coulee Dam, WA · UV Index right now

No burn risk right now

UV 0Low

EPA UV Index scale

Current reading: UV 0 — Low.

Sun protection right now

SPF & cover-up
No protection needed for most people. You can safely stay outside.
Reapply
Reapply broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours, and immediately after swimming, towelling off, or heavy sweating. The first application should go on 15–30 minutes before you head outside.
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.

Guidance follows the U.S. EPA Sun Safety scale and the World Health Organization Global Solar UV Index. Burn-time estimate assumes a Fitzpatrick type III skin baseline; fair skin (types I–II) burns faster. Current band: Low.

When UV is strongest in Coulee Dam

Ultraviolet radiation tracks the sun’s angle, so it peaks around solar noon — roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time — and is strongest from late spring through summer, when the midday sun rides highest. Even outside those hours the index can stay elevated at high elevation and near reflective surfaces like water, sand, and fresh snow, which bounce additional UV back at you.

Clouds are not the shield they look like: up to about 80% of UV passes through a thin or broken overcast, so a grey sky in Coulee Dam is no guarantee against sunburn. The forecast UV Index already folds in expected cloud cover, ozone, elevation, and the sun’s angle for the day, which is why it is a better guide to your real exposure than the look of the sky. Check the number, not the brightness.

Frequently asked

What is a safe UV index?
The EPA considers a UV Index of 0–2 (Low) safe for most people with no protection needed. From 3 (Moderate) up, sun protection is recommended; 6–7 is High, 8–10 is Very High, and 11+ is Extreme, where unprotected skin can burn in minutes.
What SPF do I need for UV index 8?
At UV Index 8 (Very High), both the EPA and WHO recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30, reapplied every two hours, plus a hat, sunglasses, and shade. SPF 50+ adds margin for fair skin or extended midday exposure.
When is UV strongest in Coulee Dam?
UV radiation in Coulee Dam peaks around solar noon — roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time — when the sun is highest. It is also stronger in late spring and summer, at higher elevation, and near reflective surfaces like water, sand, and snow.
Can you get sunburned on a cloudy day in Coulee Dam?
Yes. Up to about 80% of UV radiation passes through clouds, so you can still burn in Coulee Dam on an overcast day. The WHO notes that thin or scattered cloud offers little protection — check the UV Index, not the sky.
Does the UV index account for cloud cover?
Yes. The forecast UV Index issued by agencies like the EPA factors in expected cloud cover, ozone, elevation, and the sun's angle for the day. It reflects the peak UV expected around solar noon, not a fixed clear-sky value.

More for Coulee Dam

See the full Coulee Dam, WA weather forecast — hour-by-hour outlook, NOAA radar, satellite, and air quality.

UV Index nearby in Washington