UV Index Alert ‘Extreme’ for July 10

The UV Alert is "extreme" for the Tamap Bay area July 10, and also for 17 other cities in the nation where the ultraviolet index forecast is 11 or higher.

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

This is the second-highest forecast among the 58 readings taken and the same UV Index forecast for Albuquerque, Boise, Cheyenne, Dallas, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mobile, Phoenix, San Francisco and Wichita (see chart below).

The highest UV Index for July 10 is 12, forecast for four cities: Denver, Miami, Salt Lake City and San Juan.

The lowest UV Index is 4, forecast for Anchorage. Next lowest is 5, forecast for Raleigh, and 7, forecast for Norfolk.

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 (July 10, 2012)

 

CITY STATE UVI   (June 30) UVI    (July 10) Denver CO         12         12 Miami FL         12         12 Salt Lake City UT         12         12 San Juan PU         12         12 Albuquerque NM         13         11 Boise ID         11         11 Cheyenne WY         11         11 Dallas TX         11         11 Honolulu HI         12         11 Houston TX         10         11 Jacksonville FL         12         11 Las Vegas NV         12         11 Los Angeles CA         13         11 Mobile AL         12         11 Phoenix AZ         12         11 San Francisco CA         11         11 Tampa  FL         12         11 Wichita KS         10         11 Atlanta   GA         11         10 Billings MT         10         10 Charleston WV         10         10 Indianapolis IN          9         10 Little Rock AR         11         10 Louisville KY         10         10 New Orleans LA         12         10 Oklahoma City OK         11         10 Omaha NE         10         10 Portland OR          8         10 St. Louis MO         10         10 Atlantic City NJ          9          9 Baltimore MD          8          9 Bismarck ND          9          9 Boston MA          9          9 Charleston SC         11          9 Des Moines IA         10          9 Dover DE          9          9 Hartford CT          9          9 Jackson MS         11          9 Memphis TN         11          9 New York NY          9          9 Philadelphia PA          9          9 Pittsburgh PA          7          9 Providence RI          9          9 Seattle WA          7          9 Sioux Falls SD          9          9 Washington DC          8          9 Buffalo NY          8          8 Burlington VT          8          8 Chicago IL          9          8 Cleveland OH          8          8 Concord NH          9          8 Detroit MI          8          8 Milwaukee WI          9          8 Minneapolis MN          9          8 Portland ME          8          8 Norfolk VA         11          7 Raleigh NC         11          5 Anchorage AK          4          4 Source: National Weather Service