UK weather: What is the UV Index and why could it break UK records?on June 25, 2020 at 12:07 pm

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The UK could experience a record UV level of nine on Thursday as the temperature continues to rise.

So what is UV and why could records be broken now?

What is the UV Index?

The UV Index (or UVI) is a standard international measure of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Sun – which penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere and can cause sunburn.

Index values start at zero and then can rise above 10.

The higher the UVI, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eyes – and also the less time it takes for harm to occur.

Levels of UV radiation vary throughout the day.

Highest readings occur in the four-hour period around solar noon, which – depending on where you are and whether daylight saving time is applied – is between 12:00 and 14:00.

Countries close to the equator can experience very high UV levels in the middle of the day throughout the year.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nairobi in Kenya can see UV levels above 10 all year.

Majorca in Spain, will normally hit nine in June and July.

But the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic never usually gets above five in December and January – when it’s summer in the southern hemisphere.

What is the UV index in the UK?

UV levels increase in the spring across the UK, reaching a peak in late June.

In this current spell of fine weather, we could see some of the highest UV levels ever recorded.

“Normally they’re about six or seven in the summer months,” says BBC Weather’s Matt Taylor. “Today we could hit a nine in some parts of southern England and South Wales.”

Why is the UV index so high now?

There are a number of factors – not just because most of the UK is cloud-free at the moment.

“We’ve just passed the summer solstice so the sun is particularly high in the sky,” says Taylor.

“We’ve also seen ozone depletion at exceptional levels across the northern hemisphere during the winter and spring, mainly due to natural weather patterns.

“And with much of the northern hemisphere being under lockdown recently, pollution levels are lower. That stops the UV being scattered quite so much.”

• BBC Weather
• Met Office UV Index forecast

Why is UV dangerous?

We need sunlight to keep us in good health, but getting sunburnt from too much UV exposure – especially for fair-skinned people – isn’t the only risk.

“UV is important for getting Vitamin D and keeping us healthy, but too much of it can cause skin cancer or eye cataracts,” says Dr Michaela Hegglin from the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology.

“So slip into a shirt, slop on some sun cream, and slap on a hat and sunglasses during the hottest hours of the day.”

And remember, the amount of UV reaching your skin is not driven by the daily temperature. UV levels on a bright and breezy late April day will be about the same as a warm sunny day in August.

“Your skin can burn just as quickly whether it’s 30C or 20C,” says BBC Weather’s Helen Willetts. “And don’t be caught out on cloudy days. UV will still penetrate thin clouds – so even if you don’t think it’s that sunny, you can still burn.”

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What can I do to avoid UV damage?

You should regularly apply a high factor sunscreen to prevent skin damage – especially if you are fair-skinned. You should also avoid being out in the sun during the middle of the day.

Sunglasses are also important. Exposure to UV rays has also been linked to serious eye conditions.

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