Find Your Local UV Index !
UV Index Today in USA
UV Index Today in Major Cities
What is the UV Index?
The UV index is a forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to UV rays from the sun, it's a scale
that predicts uv exposure from the sun at the earth's surface on any given day. It ranges from 0 (low
risk) all the way up to 11+ (extreme risk). Countries all over the world utilize the uv index as
advocated by the world health organization but each country differs ever so slightly how the calculation
is determined, in the USA the national weather service and the environmental protection agency are tasked
with deriving the uv index.It's actually fluctuates throughout the day and it's peak at noon so when look
up the uv index it is giving you a prediction for noon that day but the uv index slowly decreases as the
day winds on.
How is the UV Index measured?
In the USA a computer model is used to calculate the uv exposure at ground level as it relates to the
concentration of ozone cloud coverage and latitude as these things all effect the relative amount of uv
reaching the surface of the earth, the uv index is going to vary depending what area of the country
you're in or the world you're in obviously because the uv index will change with latitude, think of the
uv index as a tool for predicting the risk of a sunburn, you can think of the stronger amount of uv rays
reaching the earth and the greater the risk of extreme sun damage.
Can the UV Index affect my skin?
Yes, a high UV Index indicates that the ultraviolet radiation is strong enough to cause harm to your skin
in a short amount of time. This can lead to sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and an increased risk
of skin cancer. It's important to take protective measures such as wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and
protective clothing when the UV Index is high.
What are the different UV Index levels and what do they mean?
The UV Index is a scale that provides an indicator of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun. It is
a way to quantify the strength of sunburn-producing ultraviolet (UV) radiation at a particular place and
time. The scale goes from 0 to 11+, where higher numbers indicate a higher risk of overexposure to UV
radiation.
Here's a general table indicating the UV Index scale, what each level means, and the recommended sun
protection measures:
| UV Index |
Risk Level |
Recommended Protection |
| 0 - 2 |
Low Risk |
No protection needed. You can safely stay outside using minimal sun protection. |
| 3 - 5 |
Moderate Risk |
Protection needed. Seek shade during late morning through mid-afternoon. When
outside, generously apply broad-spectrum SPF-15 or higher sunscreen on exposed skin, and wear
protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. |
| 6 - 7 |
High Risk |
| 8 - 10 |
Very High Risk |
Extra protection needed. Be careful outside, especially during late morning through
mid-afternoon. If your shadow is shorter than you, seek shade and wear protective clothing, a
wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, and generously apply a minimum of SPF-15, broad-spectrum
sunscreen on exposed skin. |
| 11+ |
Extreme Risk |