SunticUV index in Los Angeles today
LA's Mediterranean climate delivers sunshine on most days of the year, with UV peaking through the long, dry summer. The only accurate figure is a live one for your exact spot: Suntic shows Los Angeles's real-time UV index and a 10-day forecast.
Sun and UV in Los Angeles
Los Angeles enjoys clear skies for much of the year, and midday UV reaches high or very high levels across summer. A morning marine layer (the famous 'June Gloom') can grey the sky and trick you into skipping protection, even though UV climbs quickly once it burns off. Inland valleys tend to run hotter and sunnier than the coast.
When is UV highest in Los Angeles?
UV is highest around solar noon (broadly 10am to 4pm) and strongest across May to September. The exact peak shifts with the season and the day's weather. For more on this, see when is the sun strongest.
The UV index scale
| UV index | Risk level | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | Low | Minimal risk. Safe to be outside; sunglasses on bright days. |
| 3-5 | Moderate | Take care at midday. Use SPF 30+, a hat and shade around noon. |
| 6-7 | High | Protection needed. SPF 30+, cover up, seek shade 10am-4pm. |
| 8-10 | Very high | Extra protection. Avoid the sun at midday; SPF, clothing and shade are essential. |
| 11+ | Extreme | Take all precautions. Unprotected skin can burn quickly; stay inside or fully covered at peak hours. |
UV index categories follow the World Health Organization / US EPA scale.
Staying sun-safe in Los Angeles
- Don't be fooled by a cloudy marine-layer morning; UV often spikes by midday once the cloud clears.
- Beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu add reflected UV off sand and water.
- Higher-elevation hikes (Griffith Park, the San Gabriels) mean stronger UV than at sea level.
Wherever you are, the basics hold: use broad-spectrum SPF 30+, seek shade around midday, cover up, and never let your skin burn. See our sunburn prevention tips.
See Los Angeles's live UV index
Suntic turns the live UV index into personal safe-sun times, sunscreen reminders and vitamin D tracking on your iPhone.
