Shade’s UV forecast shows how the UV index will rise and fall through today, hour by hour, plus a 10-day outlook with each day’s peak. It’s data from Apple Weather, shown next to your estimated burn time so you can plan when to be outside.
What the forecast shows
- Hourly UV curve: today’s UV from sunrise to sunset, with the peak marked.
- 10-day outlook: each day’s highest UV, with the weather and temperatures.
- Sunrise and sunset: the edges of the day’s UV window.
Finding the best time to tan
UV usually peaks around solar noon and drops off on either side. The same 30 minutes can be a small dose at 9:00 and a large one at 13:00. If you like to tan, the curve shows the hours when UV is lower and your estimated burn time is longer, so you can choose when to lie down instead of guessing.
A lower-UV hour isn’t a free pass. Your burn time still applies, and Shade counts the session against it. In the middle of the day, when UV is high or extreme, the WHO advises seeking shade and covering up.
Morning UV alerts
With Shade Plus you can get a morning notification on days when UV is forecast to reach 3 or more, the level where WHO suggests sun protection. It tells you roughly how high UV will get and when. On low-UV days Shade stays quiet, so the alert means something when it arrives. Plus also adds a daily UV summary.
Planning a trip
UV depends a lot on latitude and season. A July afternoon in southern Europe can reach UV 9 or 10, while the same day in northern Europe might peak at 5 or 6. If you’re heading somewhere sunnier, read Shade for travel.
Where the data comes from
UV forecasts come from Apple Weather. UV bands and protection advice follow the WHO UV Index. Forecasts can change, and cloud, altitude and reflection shift the UV you actually get.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead does Shade forecast UV?
Shade shows today’s UV hour by hour and a 10-day outlook with each day’s highest UV, all from Apple Weather.
What is the best time to tan?
There’s no single answer, but the UV curve shows when UV is lower and your estimated burn time is longer, usually earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. Around solar noon UV is highest and your burn time is shortest.
What are morning UV alerts?
A Shade Plus notification on days when UV is forecast to reach 3 or higher. It tells you the expected peak and roughly when it happens, so you can plan before heading out.