The UV index changes through the day and from town to town. This page puts one UV reading for each of 23 cities in a single table, with the time it was read, then gives the two official keys to reading it: the World Health Organization’s UV bands and INSIVUMEH’s hour-by-hour UV levels as published by CONRED.
Quick summary:
- Live table: the UV index for 23 cities from the site’s weather feed (UV from WeatherAPI.com), with the time of the reading. It is the UV at that moment, not the day’s maximum.
- WHO bands: 0 to 2, you can safely be outside; 3 to 7, seek shade at midday and wear a shirt, sunscreen and hat; 8 and above, avoid being outside at midday.
- Strongest hours: CONRED, citing INSIVUMEH, places extreme UV from 10:00 to 14:00.
- Protection: CONRED recommends sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, long sleeves, water, and precautions even on cloudy days.
UV index by city, from the latest feed read
Pulled Oct 9, 2026 at 15:53 Guatemala time from WeatherAPI.com (UV).
| City | UV index at feed read | WHO band |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua Guatemala | 1.0 | 0–2 |
| Chimaltenango | 1.9 | 0–2 |
| Chiquimula | 2.9 | 3–7 |
| Coban | 3.0 | 3–7 |
| Cuilapa | 3.3 | 3–7 |
| Escuintla | 2.1 | 0–2 |
| Flores | 2.1 | 0–2 |
| Guastatoya | 2.9 | 3–7 |
| Guatemala City | 1.1 | 0–2 |
| Huehuetenango | 3.1 | 3–7 |
| Jalapa | 2.9 | 3–7 |
| Jutiapa | 0.9 | 0–2 |
| Mazatenango | 1.5 | 0–2 |
| Panajachel | 1.9 | 0–2 |
| Puerto Barrios | 2.9 | 3–7 |
| Quetzaltenango | 1.7 | 0–2 |
| Retalhuleu | 1.4 | 0–2 |
| Salama | 3.3 | 3–7 |
| San Marcos | 1.7 | 0–2 |
| Santa Cruz del Quiche | 1.9 | 0–2 |
| Solola | 1.9 | 0–2 |
| Totonicapan | 1.7 | 0–2 |
| Zacapa | 2.9 | 3–7 |
One value per city: the UV at the moment the collector ran (the time in the stamp above), not the day's peak. Decimals are rounded to the nearest whole number to assign the band. A dash means the source returned no value.
Look for Antigua Guatemala for Antigua, Panajachel and Solola (as the feed spells it) for Lake Atitlán, and Flores for Petén and Tikal trips. For the day’s forecast UV on the Pacific beaches, see the El Paredón and Monterrico beach weather page; for rain and temperature in Antigua, the Antigua weather page.
What the numbers mean: the WHO’s three bands
The WHO describes the UV index as a measure of the level of UV radiation, ranging from zero upward: the higher the number, the greater the potential for damage to skin and eyes and the less time it takes for harm to occur. Its Q&A on the index gives three bands:
| UV index | WHO advice (summarised) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | You can safely enjoy being outside |
| 3 to 7 | Seek shade during midday hours; wear a shirt, sunscreen and a hat |
| 8 and above | Avoid being outside during midday hours; seek shade; shirt, sunscreen and hat are a must |
The WHO adds that below a UVI of 2 the risk of UV damage is limited even for very sensitive fair-skinned people, and that when protection is needed it should include clothing, hat, sunglasses, shade and sunscreen.
How this page’s number differs from the WHO’s daily figure. When the UVI is reported, the WHO says, the figure given is the day’s maximum, which occurs in the four-hour period around solar noon. The table above shows the UV at the moment the site’s collector ran, which is printed in its timestamp. Compare that time with the hour table below: a reading taken outside the 10:00 to 14:00 window will be lower than the midday peak.
When the sun is strongest: INSIVUMEH’s hourly UV levels
CONRED’s press note 71-2026 of March 30, 2026, issued as UV levels rose across the country, publishes INSIVUMEH’s breakdown of UV intensity by hour of the day:
| Hours (Guatemala time) | UV level per INSIVUMEH |
|---|---|
| 06:00-07:00 and 17:00-18:00 | Low (UV bajo) |
| 07:00-08:00 and 16:00-17:00 | Moderate (UV moderado) |
| 08:00-09:00 and 15:00-16:00 | High (UV alto) |
| 09:00-10:00 and 14:00-15:00 | Very high (UV muy alto) |
| 10:00-14:00 | Extreme (UV extremo) |
These five labels are INSIVUMEH’s and are separate from the WHO’s three numeric bands. For the very high and extreme hours, CONRED notes a higher risk of sunburn and health effects and recommends avoiding direct sun.
CONRED’s sun advice
| What | CONRED recommends |
|---|---|
| Skin | Sunscreen and long-sleeved clothing |
| Eyes and head | Sunglasses and a hat or cap |
| Body | Stay hydrated |
| Timing | Avoid long exposure in the hours of highest intensity |
| Weather | Take precautions even on cloudy days |
| Emergencies | Report to CONRED on 119 |
CONRED explains that UV radiation is invisible energy from the sun and that prolonged exposure can cause sunburn, premature ageing and a higher risk of skin disease.
Where the number comes from
The site’s daily weather collector reads each city’s current conditions; the UV value is WeatherAPI.com’s, whose current weather API returns UV among its fields. When WeatherAPI.com returns no value for a city, the table prints a dash instead of a number. The band column assigns each reading to the WHO band after rounding to the nearest whole number. The feed covers the 23 cities listed in the table; for the full weather picture by department, see the weather hub.
Sources
- Live table: the site’s weather feed (UV from WeatherAPI.com, current weather API).
- UV bands and the daily-maximum convention: World Health Organization, Radiation: The ultraviolet (UV) index, Q&A dated June 20, 2022, captured October 9, 2026.
- Hourly UV levels and sun advice: CONRED, Recomendaciones ante el incremento de la intensidad del sol, press note 71-2026, captured October 9, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest UV index reading in Guatemala?
The table on this page lists the UV index for 23 cities from the site’s weather feed, with the time it was read printed above the table. Each value is the UV at that moment from WeatherAPI.com’s current conditions, not the day’s peak, so a reading taken outside the midday hours can sit below the midday high.
What do the UV numbers mean?
The WHO groups the index into three bands. From 0 to 2, it says you can safely enjoy being outside. From 3 to 7, it advises seeking shade during midday hours and wearing a shirt, sunscreen and a hat. At 8 and above, it advises avoiding being outside during midday hours, and says shade, a shirt, sunscreen and a hat are a must.
What time is the UV strongest in Guatemala?
CONRED, citing INSIVUMEH monitoring, places extreme UV from 10:00 to 14:00, very high from 09:00 to 10:00 and from 14:00 to 15:00, and high from 08:00 to 09:00 and from 15:00 to 16:00. It recommends avoiding direct sun in the very high and extreme hours.
Do I need sun protection on a cloudy day?
CONRED’s sun advice tells the public to take precautions even on cloudy days, along with sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, long sleeves and staying hydrated.
Where can I see the UV index for Antigua, Lake Atitlán or Flores?
In the table: Antigua appears as Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlán is covered by the Panajachel and Solola rows (the feed spells it without the accent), and Flores has its own row. The Pacific beaches have a separate daily UV forecast on the El Paredón and Monterrico beach weather page.
