UV index · UK

UV index today: right now, hour by hour

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UV index in London right now: 0 (low). Today's maximum is forecast at 0.5 (low) around 12:00. Highest today among the cities below: Bristol, 0.7 (low).

City	Max today	Level
London	0.5 12:00	low
Bristol	0.7 12:00	low
Manchester	0.4 11:00	low
Birmingham	0.4 10:00	low
Glasgow	0.5 12:00	low
Edinburgh	0.4 11:00	low
Leeds	0.7 12:00	low
Liverpool	0.6 11:00	low
Belfast	0.5 12:00	low
Newcastle	0.2 10:00	low
Nottingham	0.4 11:00	low
Brighton	0.7 11:00	low
Cardiff	0.7 12:00	low

Local time in each city. “Now” is the value for the current hour; “Max today” is the highest hourly value of the day and when it happens. Updated every hour.

What is the UV index where you are?

The table covers our cities. This block answers for any place: the UV index right now and today’s highest, with the hour.

UV index card in the app: today's hourly bars, peak 6.4, “Now moderate, protection needed”

In the Weather 24 app

When does UV peak where you are?

The UV index card with today's peak, hour by hour, and a line that says whether you need protection right now.

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UV index in London: today and tomorrow, hour by hour

Today the UV index in London stays below 3 all day — on the WHO scale, no sun protection is needed. Each bar is one hour, in WHO colours. The thin line shows the UV index under a clear sky — clouds bring the real value below it.

UV clear sky protection from 3 night

UV index scale: what each level means

The UV index is the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation that burns skin. The World Health Organization's scale runs from 0 up, in five levels with fixed colours; from 3 the WHO recommends sun protection, from 8 extra protection.

0–2
Low
No protection needed — you can safely stay outside.
3–5
Moderate
Protection needed: seek shade around midday, cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
6–7
High
Protection needed: the same measures, and shade matters more between late morning and mid-afternoon.
8–10
Very high
Extra protection: avoid being outside around midday; shade, clothing, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.
11+
Extreme
Extra protection: avoid the midday sun; unprotected skin can burn within minutes.

UV index in London by month: about 5 in July, 1 in November

In November the typical daily UV maximum in London is only about 1, in the low range. It usually reaches 3 again in April and peaks at about 5 in July.

Typical daily UV maximum for each month: the median of hourly model values over the last three years (Nov 2023 – Oct 2026, Open-Meteo). Sunny days run higher, overcast days lower.

UV index in the Weather 24 app

On the Today screen the UV index card shows today's maximum and its level. Tap it for UV hour by hour with the peak and a line that says whether you need protection right now. UV is also in the rows under the hourly forecast — for your location and every saved city.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the UV index today?

UV index in London right now: 0 (low). Today's maximum is forecast at 0.5 (low) around 12:00. Today the UV index in London stays below 3 all day — on the WHO scale, no sun protection is needed. The table at the top shows the UV index right now and today's maximum for 13 cities, updated every hour; each city also has its own page with an hourly chart.

What UV index is high?

On the WHO scale 0–2 is low, 3–5 moderate, 6–7 high, 8–10 very high and 11 or more extreme. From 3 the WHO recommends sun protection — shade around midday, clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen; from 8, extra protection and avoiding the midday sun.

What time is the UV index highest?

Around solar noon, when the sun is highest — usually between 11:00 and 15:00; with daylight saving time the clock reads about an hour later. Today London peaks around 12:00.

Can you get UV when it's cloudy?

Yes. Thin or broken clouds let much of the ultraviolet through, and at the edges of scattered clouds the UV index can even be briefly higher. Only a thick, solid cloud layer cuts it substantially. That's why the chart above shows both the forecast and the clear-sky value.

Why is the UV index so low in winter?

Because the sun stays low: its rays cross more atmosphere at a slant and lose more of their ultraviolet. In November the typical daily UV maximum in London is only about 1, in the low range. It usually reaches 3 again in April and peaks at about 5 in July.

Where does the data come from?

From a weather model via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), hour by hour. These are model values for a point in the city, not readings from a station. Official UV forecasts in the UK are published by the Met Office.