Despite more strong sunshine forecast for the next couple of days, the UV locally is only forecast as 1, partly due to increased moisture in this more southerly airstream. This is born out by the fact that we have a foggy morning now.

2.0 yesterday and today in Reading- despite the humidity and misty starts both days. 

UV max of 1.9 today, if this southerly drift continues we may see some Saharan dust coming our way to reduce the UV 

1.4 Saturday and 1.8 today. A King's Shilling (and I've got some) that we break 2.3 by the end of next weekend.

Another 2 today; this February is delivering well.

I tracked down a real time ( well day out) ozone map for the N.Hemisphere

http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/ozone/images/graphs/o3_hrmaps_dev/current.gif

and the back end of last week saw the S, and esp. the SE, with the fringes of the lowered ozone amounts Spain were seeing? I wonder if this drop off ( by 10 to 20% of the norms) makes it easier for us to see the top of the range of UV values for that day of the year?

That would make sense Gray; these levels do look to be unusual when considering, some of the days (not today particularly), have had quite a bit of moisture in the air to thicken the view.

I know someone pulled this up a period a few Febs/march back where we had one of these 'holes' centred over us and UV was high?

I know the furthest reaches of South America used to struggle with the then Antarctic Ozone hole so if we are seeing alterations to the lower Strat circulation over the Arctic which , in its turn, throws out lobes of the circulation to the south and into the rising sun the ozone would become depleted and so leave these weaknesses?

I might have it all wrong of course , I'm late to the party so don't know just how often such weaknesses turn up but now I have the 

http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/e/ozone/Curr_allmap.htm

maps so I can cross ref your levels ( and opinions) with the plots?

Thanks for the reply b.t.w.!

2.1 in Reading, 2.3 in Camborne and an impressive 1.8 in Inverness!

I spent 1.5 hours sitting facing the sun on the south coast at Camber Sands on Wed 20th February...my first tanning has been observed. This is the earliest date in the year my tanning has started. Normally its circa 7th March. 

Indeed, something quite special. I have a slightly pink face.

5th consecutive day of 2 or more, with 2.2 on 3 days (22nd, 23rd, 24th). 9 2s in total this month. A rare event.

Reading's 2.4 was a smasher today. This and the diurnal temperature variation reflects the dryness of the air, partly due to persistent compression from the HP.

Camborne managed a stunning 2.7.

What is causing these high UV values ?

After 5 days with daily exposure to the sun I am as brown as a berry.

My tanning normally starts after 7th March 

I don't think Steve is referring to his face.  Steve has legions of female followers and I believe was seen sporting a "mankini" at Camber.

Someone (might have been you Steve) posted a UV deficit map once. Also, very dry air- must be fairly pollutant free too.

You are persistent about your 7th March date, which suggests your early tanning is a good anecdotal indicator of increased UV (or as WI alludes to, a change in lifestyle?)

My face is also brown now after a few gardening stints and a couple of walks.

Wonder how early we might get the Neapolitan icecream look this year?

2.4 yesterday and 2.3 today here in strong sun. 

We've been seeing record levels of pollution at ground level so it is not a pristine air mass!!

Still given me a summer undercoat!

So maybe moisture is a more determining variable than these levels pollution in defining UV levels. Perhaps the height of the pollution layer is significant, where winds have been light enough not to mix them?

Anyway, 2.4 today in Reading. Correlates well with Roger's New Forest data of late.

Glad to hear the news!

Pompey is always one of the early birds.

Managed 2.2 today and 2.6 in Camborne; but as Gusty has said, things really take off in the South after 7th March.

Another 2.4 in Reading, with a split peak- cloudier around 12 and again at 1.15. Peaks at 1230 and about 1.45- the latter being late i the day and preceded by a cloudier spell. Line looks as if it might have got close to 3 otherwise. London managed 2.6

2.8 here in hazy sun at 11.30 today before cloud increased. Equivalent to a forecast 3 with rounding.

Surprise 3.4 today at lunchtime today