Hi Bertie
I know this has been raised before but I think you are inconsistent on reading the defra uv scales,
2nd April - Meanwhile 4.4 in Chilton and 3.9 in Reading today, between the cloud patches.
I agree just below 4 at Reading but Chilton was 3.4
4th April - Cam 5.3 R 5.2 Ch(5.6)
Surely from interpretation of the 2nd April, Reading was 4.2 not 5.2 and Chilton 4.4 not 5.4?
(I maxed at 4.0 today and am about 50 miles southwest of Reading) Meteoblue forecast for today was 4.0
The scale must start at zero as that is the value before sunset and rises thereafter. Probably need to contact DEFRA to confirm!
Stay safe at home...
Hi Roger
I do think Chilton's is hard to believe- it's almost always a fair bit higher than Reading but is a tad further north. I prefer Reading's, and if you scroll back, it ties in well with your readings most of the time, but the station has been inconsistent in publishing data. Reading the scale, Reading's data seems consistent sometimes- and not at others. I think the particular way the graph is presented might be misleading- protection needed is identified at the 2/3 boundary, suggesting this is 3.0.
That said, the tabulated data is sometimes (not always!) about a half an index point below the graph. The 4th April at Reading would then be 4.7, not 5.2, and certainly not 4.2- it is above the 4/5 boundary. That 4.7 would tie in well with max forecast UV locally; but it still doesn't explain why on numerous occasions, Reading's data, from this very graph, ties in well with other S.UK reports and forecasts.
I still agree with the position that, if there is any measurable UV, then it is within band 1. MetO always forecasts a UV 1 as soon as the sun makes it above the horizon. There is only a zero below that, and no 0.7 etc. I think the truth is, the graph axis may be not a lot of use, other than for health reasons. The safety bands are more important.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
'We'll never see 40 celsius in this country'.