UV Index Alert ‘Extreme’ for Solar Noon July 16

The UV Alert is "extreme" for the Tamap Bay area July 16, and also for 16 other cities in the nation where the ultraviolet index forecast is 11 or higher.

Valid for "solar noon," the July 16 UV Index forecast for the Tampa Bay area is 11.

This is the second-highest forecast among the 58 readings taken and the same UVI forecasted for Cheyenne, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Wichita.

The top UVI is 13, forecast for Honolulu, and the second-highest is 12, forecast for Albuquerque, Miami, New Orleans and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The lowest UVI is 2, forecast for Seattle. Next lowest is 4, forecast for Portland. (See chart below.)

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.

Overexposure Risks

According to the National Weather Service, overexposure to UV 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.