Looking back, 4.1 is very high for this late in September. 16th March (incidental approximate match) would never dream of a 4! (I know; the ozone levels are higher).

13.9.17 was the last 4 recorded last year, in this very short record.

4 forecast tomorrow for the whole of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, most of Hampshire, and as far north as Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. 4 reads 'seek shade during the midday hours'. Fantastic- 4 days from October.

Delivered a 4.2 in Reading today.

3.5 yesterday; 3.6 today.

Some pleasant sunshine before the cloud here today, reaching 3 I suspect: Reading just failed to, with a double peak straddling the zenith.

Beautiful here yesterday, but only reached 2.5 in Reading. I feel it all slipping away.

Looking back, I see a 3.9 on 4th October.

3.0 today.

Seasonal summary- 2018's UV year.

Highlights: there were some early good shows but the season really got going in May.

Reading recorded 6.9 on May 4th- exceptionally early for a near-7 in what has been dubbed the 'double Bank Holiday winner'. Larry picked up on the potential the day before, with widespread 7s forecast for the weekend.

On 9th May the 7.7 recorded at Reading could arguably be the highest UV for that date.

7.3 was recorded on 14th June and this was not exceeded afterwards, but matched, on 10th July.

3rd August, at the peak of the heatwave, gave a 7.0. 21st August still offered 6.3.

The autumn set in rapidly afterwards, and peaks included 5.1 on 10th Sep. and 4.2 on 27th: proving the theory that 4+ can be achieved at the end of September.

3rd October gave a very credible 3.9: can 4 be reached in October?

The last 3.0 was 9th October. Reading's systems now look to be in semi-shutdown mode.

Summary: highest UV of the year goes to 9th May, at 7.7. How rare is that?

Friday might well have been one of the last 2s of the season, although there's today to play for. 

Then it's 4 months of vitD supplements, sadly.

Got that wrong! Since Friday's 2.3, Reading's readings have been:

20th and 21st: both 2.5

2.2, 2.0, 2.2 and 2.1 yesterday.

25th October was the last 2. All high 1s on sunny days now. The crash through October is severe, considering the 4s in late September.

1.7 on 15th November was surprising and 1.3 on 23rd and 29th Dec probably represents a near possible max for Reading around the solstice.

Post to keep the thread alive for Spring.

For a historical reflection on UV values in Reading, June 2000 was the most incredible month, with 10 days of UV 8 or above and 2 days above 9.

Second day of 1.5+  (yesterday and beautiful today, which  reached 1.6). Not sure how the sensors capture UV but I do wonder of the snowfields around Berkshire might affect it?

This is when I miss my greenhouse most!

A couple of hours under 1.5 or 1.6 UV thaws the bones and brings hope of the spring.

Ho Hum , two more months!

More like one more month before I have to slop on loads of goopy suncream every time I go to the wolf centre - hate having to do that, but at least it reduces the risk of skin cancer. (I've seen relatives and friends come down with it, and I'm determined to avoid their fate!)

That said, with the sunlight bouncing off the snow on Saturday up in the hills near Reading, it felt more like late February than early!

Probably missed it, but what's the connection with the wolf centre Retron? We live about 4km from there, but our quiet Sunday morning trail runs take us closer by than that, and their call is unmistakable and wonderful to hear. When the one escaped (intentionally or otherwise) last year, it came down our lane and through the fields where we walk the dog daily, but from what I heard she went through a field of sheep without even blinking.

Sorry about the digress from UV levels, trout season on the Lambourn and Itchen is around the corner, so that'll be my reminder to start looking at the Reading levels...

Of no real surprise giving it's mid Feb but still it's always nice to see the uv index heading up..

 

Solar panels got up to 2Kw today by 11am (they face SE).

7 March seems to be the real trigger point though.

I would agree, in most years. Two years ago, though, we triggered a UV2 in mid Feb (about 16th I think?)

Shows what the potential could be!

2.0 in Reading. Yawoo! Is that a record- certainly it's the earliest 2 in recent years?

Edit:  The MetO forecast for today was spot on!

The  sun was strong today for early-mid February.  Best ever solar electricity generation for this date here at my home-cum-powerstation.

but

only because I missed the outdoors entirely! Aaaagh!

Anyone know of any images of the amount of stratospheric Ozone over the UK currently?

If we are seeing high levels of U.V. for the time of year could it be hinting at some reductions in our ozone protection?

Thanks in advance!

The sun wasn't strong it doesn't change, it will be the same strenghth at this time of year as it was last. The sun at this point in February is pretty much the same as it is at the end if October, and at at that point UV's are still around 2 (or at least they are down here).

What can and does effect the sun strength are atmospheric things such as; pollution, ozone  humidity, clouds etc.