Thanks for the link Rob; what you say certainly makes sense. I can correlate the RH (roughly) from your link on different days with the max UV, other factors considered (I might try on April-Sep days, say, with 10 hours + sunshine just to create a weak control measure).

Interesting. The 2s have come early this year too. Those quoted are for Reading- we are some way south of Reading, so mid Feb is possible.

Just under, but rounded to, 2 today.

That'll get your plants going. Still on for a 6 tomorrow?

I haven't checked but definitely a 6 still in the forecast for Friday.  Didn't get my seeds in yesterday as composting, feeding and watering all the potted fruit trees/shrubs took a lot longer than expected. The sun still sets about 5.45pm here so not much time to do anything after work. Will attempt to get them in today to take advantage of the 24c weather and high UV forecast over the next couple of days.

I probably should really be contributing to the gardening thread.

2.2 today- best so far.

1.8 today- cloudy

UV of 6 today under slightly hazy skies. 25c  and humidity of 10% whilst writing.

Currently 1.9 with the sun popping in and out behind the clouds. Could we top this year's best- a 2.3? Doesn't compare to Lummi's, of course.

Actually only reached 2.0 yesterday, as cloud and in-forecasted rain spoiled the afternoon. Looking out of the window right now, it's hard to believe that 2 is also forecast for today.

2.1 yesterday. 2.3 today- today holds the top spot.

2.5 today. Thought it felt a bit special in the few moments around 1pm when I got out. In fact the chart for Reading shows 2.5 from about 1130a.m. to 1p.m. Good clear air after the rain.

2.1 today.

I spent 45 mins in the sun at lunchtime and can confirm that I have now officially started to tan a little.

The sun felt very warm today.  

Bring it on ! 

Yep. 2.9 today in Reading- would be a 3 on the S. Coast. Best of the year so far and counts as moderate UV factor- no wonder you've bronzed a bit.

As you say... bring it on.

2.0 today; cloudy- that's a result!

2.3 reached shortly after midday; still hanging around 2 even now.

The sides of cumulus clouds can reflect enough sunlight toward the surface so as to intensify the total input when the sun is also shining straight down on a location. This is why on quite cloudy days those few glimpses of sun can sometimes seem unusually intense for the time of year. The effect is most pronounced when the sun is close to, but not directly overhead; the angle of reflection is closest to straight down - so the sunlight travels through the least amount of atmosphere - without there being no reflection at all.

In the UK the sun is never exactly overhead so from around early March to late October we can potentially experience reflectively enhanced sunlight on any day with the right cloud conditions.

There is also some refraction of light through clouds - particularly high ones - that can get involved but at this point things start to get very complex, enough so that climate models struggle to even parameterise the effect, so I'll shut off my technical outburst here 

Oh and - I have achieved a very slight tan as of 11th March, which is as early as I've ever managed. This is thanks to several days this month with light winds, a good bit of sunshine and temps reaching the mid-teens. The March of the future? 

Didn't make 2 today- 1.8 best. Quite a manky old day.

2.6 in Reading- must be some cloud because it's bright, strong sun here- I would gamble at least 3- typical Monday after a 2 day cloud-up at the weekend.