Vitamin D in Tonga in October: sun, UV and what to expect
Bad weather Bad weather: it rains on about 18 days in October (rainy or monsoon season), so sun is hard to count on and a beach stay is not recommended.
7.4 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
7.7peak UV Index
7 minto a full dose
25°Cafternoon high
18/30rainy days
26/30sunny days
The country rating is for a typical beach, but some places in Tonga still work in October: Neiafu (excellent), Haʻapai (excellent).
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 7.7. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 7 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 13 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 26 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- On clear days the UV Index reaches about 9.1, which is very strong. Keep sessions short and protect the rest of the day.
- 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 | 5 min | 9 min | 17 min |
| Type II | 6 min | 11 min | 22 min |
| Type III | 7 min | 13 min | 26 min |
| Type IV | 10 min | 19 min | 39 min |
| Type V | 14 min | 26 min | 52 min |
| Type VI | 23 min | 43 min | 87 min |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Nukuʻalofa, 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 Tonga in October
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neiafu | Excellent | 8.2 h | 6 min | 25°C | 8/30 |
| Haʻapai | Excellent | 8.0 h | 6 min | 25°C | 11/30 |
| Nukuʻalofa | Bad weather | 7.4 h | 7 min | 25°C | 18/30 |
| Tongatapu | Bad weather | 7.4 h | 7 min | 25°C | 18/30 |
| ʻEua | Bad weather | 7.3 h | 7 min | 24°C | 21/30 |
Other months in Tonga
- Jan Bad weather
- Feb Bad weather
- Mar Bad weather
- Apr Excellent
- May Bad weather
- Jun Good
- Jul Good
- Aug Good
- Sep Excellent
- Oct Bad weather
- Nov Bad weather
- Dec Bad weather
Best months: April, June to September. Full Tonga guide