Vitamin D in Florida in October: sun, UV and what to expect
Bad weather Bad weather: October is a peak month for tropical storms here, so a beach stay is not recommended. If you still go, check forecasts and travel insurance.
6.6 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
5.9peak UV Index
9 minto a full dose
28°Cafternoon high
1/30rainy days
27/30sunny days
How long in the sun in October?
- 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 Destin, 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 Florida in October
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key West | Bad weather | 7.0 h | 8 min | 30°C | 7/30 |
| Clearwater Beach | Bad weather | 6.5 h | 9 min | 28°C | 5/30 |
| Sanibel Island | Bad weather | 6.2 h | 9 min | 28°C | 6/30 |
| St. Petersburg | Bad weather | 6.3 h | 9 min | 28°C | 6/30 |
| Miami Beach | Bad weather | 6.6 h | 8 min | 29°C | 12/30 |
| Destin | Bad weather | 6.6 h | 9 min | 28°C | 1/30 |
| Palm Beach | Bad weather | 6.2 h | 9 min | 28°C | 5/30 |
| Naples | Bad weather | 5.8 h | 9 min | 29°C | 6/30 |
| Pensacola | Bad weather | 6.7 h | 9 min | 28°C | 2/30 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Bad weather | 6.5 h | 9 min | 29°C | 13/30 |
| Daytona Beach | Bad weather | 6.1 h | 10 min | 27°C | 5/30 |
| Orlando | Bad weather | 5.9 h | 10 min | 29°C | 10/30 |
Other months in Florida
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Good
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Excellent
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Too hot
- Aug Excellent
- Sep Bad weather
- Oct Bad weather
- Nov Good
- Dec Good
Best months: February to June, August, November, December. Full Florida guide