Where to Check the UV Index: Free Government Forecasts and the EPA SunWise App
Turn vague sun awareness into a daily habit with authoritative, ad-free UV forecasts you can pull up by ZIP code or right from the EPA's SunWise app.
The EPA, National Weather Service and CDC jointly produce a daily and hourly UV Index forecast that is available free by ZIP code and through the EPA's SunWise app.
The EPA presents its SunWise tools as a way to translate UV awareness into daily action—offering an authoritative, ad-free forecast by ZIP code so people can plan outdoor activities and sun protection around the day's actual UV levels rather than guesswork.
Questions we get a lot
Where can I check a free UV Index forecast?
The EPA notes that the EPA, National Weather Service and CDC jointly produce a daily and hourly UV Index forecast available free by ZIP code. You can also get it through the EPA's SunWise app. Because it's a government tool, it's authoritative and ad-free.
What is the EPA SunWise app?
The SunWise app is the EPA's mobile tool for delivering the UV Index forecast to your phone. It provides the same official daily and hourly UV data you can find by ZIP code online. The EPA offers it as part of its broader sun-safety program.
Is the hourly UV Index more useful than the daily one?
Both have their place. The EPA provides both a daily and an hourly UV Index forecast, with the hourly version helping you pinpoint the most intense part of the day. The daily number is handy for an at-a-glance plan, while the hourly breakdown helps schedule outdoor activity around peak UV.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'Is there a reliable, ad-free way to check the UV index where I live before I head out?'