Reading is back online- hooray! Has reached 4.0 today- I've been in the garden, glass of cider, no shirt, rondo Venezziano playing; dozed off twice & had summery flashbacks.

4.2 here today. Very warm in the greenhouse potting up plants!

3.8 yesterday in Reading. Strong sunshine here so possibly a 4. Roger?

3.8 yesterday in Reading. Strong sunshine here so possibly a 4. Roger?

I recorded 3.8 as well yesterday with hazy sunshine so 4  quite possible.

Plenty of UV5's being predicted by meto for next week here and elsewhere even though our local davis stations are already giving us that. Next Wednesday a meto prediction of UV6 for Falmouth, Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter, Weymouth, possibly other places. It will change many times before then but some people will be caught out next week by the strength of the sun no doubt.

We have 5 forecast for Wednesday.

That's a good result for mid April in N England. 

Reading managed 4.2 today but the sky, although cloudless, is pale blue rather than brilliant blue.

 

That's a good result for mid April in N England. 

Reading managed 4.2 today but the sky, although cloudless, is pale blue rather than brilliant blue.

I was out in the garden most of the day on Saturday (including first lunch outside of the year) and noticed a little bit of redness on my face by the evening. Easy to forget at this time of year we are only two months from the solstice!

Many places in south Devon & Cornwall have a meto forecast of UV6 for tomorrow with less than 24 hours to go. I was tracking it along the south coast west to east and the last place with a 6 is Paignton less than two miles from me. Thats going to be some strong sun tomorrow.

It scares me at those levels as I never used to burn until I started shaving my head and now I burn easily.

Many places in south Devon & Cornwall have a meto forecast of UV6 for tomorrow with less than 24 hours to go. I was tracking it along the south coast west to east and the last place with a 6 is Paignton less than two miles from me. Thats going to be some strong sun tomorrow.

It scares me at those levels as I never used to burn until I started shaving my head and now I burn easily.

 I am totally surprised to see Reading reached 5.5 today Larry. Keep your sunhat on!

Is there something someone should be telling us about our ozone protection or do we routinely see such high values this time of year?

5.2 today in Reading; a trifle surprised, as the air is definitely thicker, hazier.

Is there something someone should be telling us about our ozone protection or do we routinely see such high values this time of year?

Well, the sun's got the same altitude as in late August, albeit ozone is usually higher this time of year so the UV index isn't as high.

At the moment we have a patch of lower ozone levels over us:

https://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/Scripts/big_image.php?date=2018-04-16&hem=N

5.4 and 5.5 on the last two days. 

5.5 yesterday, as I started my cycling season with a 25m (40k) over the South Downs- mostly travelling south. The cloud arrived after I got home. Lobster.

 5.9 today in Reading- the highest since 20th August almost hit a 6 last year. 5.7 also on 26th April. The 6s will be here at the weekend, I am sure.

Beeb website has UV forecast as 'High' for much of next week as does MetO but this equates to 5 or 6. MetO shows mostly 5. Interesting to see what happens on the sunniest day.

5.1 today

Meto automated forecast going for UV7 across the south coast from Land's End to Dover over the weekend. Maybe it will change but looks like they're expecting it to be very high considering it only goes up to 8.

UV forecast for Bank Holiday Monday