Vitamin D in California in March: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in March: afternoon highs average only 16.3°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
6.5 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
5.9peak UV Index
9 minto a full dose
16°Cafternoon high
6/30rainy days
27/30sunny days
Open California for March on the map Find stays in California
How long in the sun in March?
- If you travel anyway, plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 5.9. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 9 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 17 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 34 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 6 min | 11 min | 23 min |
| Type II | 8 min | 14 min | 28 min |
| Type III | 9 min | 17 min | 34 min |
| Type IV | 14 min | 25 min | 51 min |
| Type V | 18 min | 34 min | 68 min |
| Type VI | 30 min | 56 min | 1.9 h |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Santa Monica, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in California in March
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Jolla | Too cold | 6.9 h | 9 min | 18°C | 3/30 |
| Los Angeles | Too cold | 6.8 h | 9 min | 20°C | 6/30 |
| Malibu | Too cold | 6.9 h | 9 min | 17°C | 4/30 |
| Laguna Beach | Too cold | 6.7 h | 9 min | 17°C | 3/30 |
| San Diego | Too cold | 6.4 h | 9 min | 18°C | 7/30 |
| Santa Monica | Too cold | 6.5 h | 9 min | 16°C | 6/30 |
| Santa Barbara | Too cold | 6.8 h | 9 min | 17°C | 8/30 |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | Too cold | 6.4 h | 9 min | 16°C | 6/30 |
| Monterey | Too cold | 6.5 h | 10 min | 16°C | 7/30 |
| Santa Cruz | Too cold | 5.7 h | 10 min | 15°C | 9/30 |
Other months in California
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Too cold
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Too cold
- May Too cold
- Jun Too cold
- Jul Excellent
- Aug Excellent
- Sep Excellent
- Oct Good
- Nov Too cold
- Dec Too cold
Best months: July to October. Full California guide