UV Index Alert ‘Extreme’ for Aug. 10 in Tampa (and 10 Other Cities)

The UV Alert is "extreme" for the Tamap Bay area Aug. 10, and also for 10 other cities in the nation where the ultraviolet index forecast is 11 or higher.

Valid for "solar noon," the Aug. 10 UV Index forecast for the Tampa Bay area is 11.

This is the third-highest forecast among the 58 readings taken and the same UV Index forecast for Albuquerque, Denver, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans and Phoenix (see chart below).

The highest UV Index for Aug. 10 is 13, forecast for Puertor Rico, followed by 12, forecast for Honolulu.

The lowest UV Index is 4, forecast for both Anchorage and Louisville. Next lowest is 5, forecast for Baltimore, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Portland (Maine) and Washington D.C.

What Is the UV Index

The UVI is "the next-day forecast for the amount of skin-damaging radiation expected to reach the earth's surface at the time when the sun is highest in the sky," according to the National Weather Service.

The UV Index ranges from O (at night) to 16 (as in the tropics, at high elevations under clear skies).

The higher the UV Index, the greater the "dose rate" of skin- and eye-damaging ultraviolet radiation, according to the National Weather Service.

The UV Index is categorized by the World Health Organization as follows:

• LOW — 0, 1, 2
• MODERATE — 3, 4, 5
• HIGH — 6, 7 
• VERY HIGH — 8, 9, 10
• EXTREME — 11-16

Overexposure Risks

According to the National Weather Service, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause the following:

• Severe sunburn, following an intense, short-term overxposure.

• Melanoma, the more deadly of the two types of skin cancer, following several intense, short-term overxosures.

• Non-melanoma skin cancers, which are almost 100 percent curable after overexposure for very long periods of time, as is experienced typically by construction workers, farmers and fishermen.

• Catracts in the eyes, also following long-term exposure.

SUN-SAFETY TIPS

The Hillsborough County Extension Office, through the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, offers the following tips for avoiding the dangers of overexposure:

Do Not Burn

• Five or more sunburns can double the chances of getting skin cancer.

Monitor UV Levels

• Limit outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV Index is "high" (6 or 7), "very high" (8, 9 or 10) or "extreme" (11 or higher).

Apply Lots of Sunscreen

• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF of at least 15) 20 minutes before going outside. Re-apply the sunscreen again every two hours, and after swimming or sweating.

Protect Head and Eyes

• Wear wide-brimmed hats for better sun protection. Wear sunglasses with 99-100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection.

Use Extra Caution Near Water and Sand

• Water and sand (and snow) reflect UV rays, causing extra exposure.

Avoid Tank Tops

• Wear T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts as opposed to lessen exposure of shoulders and sides.

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UV Indexes for Major Cities (Aug. 10, 2012)

CITY STATE UVI San Juan PU 13 Honolulu HI 12 Albuquerque NM 11 Denver CO 11 Jacksonville FL 11 Los Angeles CA 11 Miami FL 11 Mobile AL 11 New Orleans LA 11 Phoenix AZ 11 Tampa FL 11 Atlanta GA 10 Boise ID 10 Charleston SC 10 Cheyenne WY 10 Dallas TX 10 Houston TX 10 Jackson MS 10 Las Vegas NV 10 Oklahoma City OK 10 San Francisco CA 10 Wichita KS 10 Billings MT 9 Little Rock AR 9 Norfolk VA 9 Salt Lake City UT 9 Bismarck ND 8 Boston MA 8 Charleston WV 8 Des Moines IA 8 Memphis TN 8 Pittsburg PA 8 Portland OR 8 Raleigh NC 8 Buffalo NY 7 Burlington VT 7 Chicago IL 7 Cleveland OH 7 Detroit MI 7 Hartford CT 7 Minneapolis MN 7 New York NY 7 Philadelphia PA 7 Providence RI 7 Seattle WA 7 Atlantic City NJ 6 Concord NH 6 Dover DE 6 Omaha NE 6 Sioux Falls SD 6 St. Louis MO 6 Baltimore MD 5 Indianapolis IN 5 Milwaukee WI 5 Portland ME 5 Washington DC 5 Anchorage AK 4 Louisville KY 4 Source: National Weather Service