Can I just draw attention back to this excellent data set Steve (Gusty) posted on here. 

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/london?month=1&year=2018

In London, the sun's maximum angle of elevation has now risen from 15.1 at the solstice to 21.5 degrees today. One effect is that even as I type at nearly 3pm, the sun is still above the rooftops across the road.

1.6 yesterday in Reading.

Meto have our first UV2 of the year forecast for Monday 12th Feb.

We do to :)

That's good news Larry; Reading has been hovering around 1.5 for a few days; Lerwick only 1.1 at best. We too have a 2 forecast in bright sunshine on Monday, with a temperature of 7°C. With winds increasing to perhaps moderate SW by lunchtime, it might not feel too springy, but it'll certainly open the early bulb blooms and put a bit of colour in my face.

Reading 1.6 at noon.

Sun's elevation here- 25°- over 9° higher than the solstice. (ref via Gusty)

UV max of 1.5 here today at 12.27.

Hi Roger

Not seen your posts for a while; do you think we'll get the promised 2 tomorrow?

Yes it is quite possible, I recorded 2.2 on 28th Oct and 1.9 on 29th Oct 2017 which is the same day the other side of the winter solstice.

The air is very clear but highest uv does not always correlate with this. You can check the uv level and solar graph on my website 

Reading still only managed 1.6 today. Still, Cyprus only just scraped 3. 

UV 1.5 again today here, some high cloud around at lunchtime. 

Thought the sun had started to rose my face so checked Reading....1.9. Highest this year so far. We may have just snatched a 2 here.

I've just noticed that I've picked up my first tinge of a healthier glow today. I'm frankly shocked as the earliest previous date for this to happen is circa 7th March.

A 90 minute ride on the bike by the sea between 13:05hrs and 14:50hrs appears to have done the trick on a day with virtually unbroken sunshine and some scattered cumulus at times.

Either my ageing (48 year old) skin is more susceptible to the sun now or today's UV levels are unusually higher than where they should be ? 

Achieved a consistent 2.0 after midday today!

That ties in well with Reading's 1.7 which was an up and down reading- sunny spells only.

Not just your youthful age Steve but the unbroken sunshine, by the sea (possible additional reflection) and right on the south coast. Sea air can at this time of year be clearer, due to fewer pollutants. Then there's the extra glow you get from the wind (on your bike). You'll be tanning  with the cold, clear stuff due before you get snowed in!

lol Bertie.  

Some nice albedo from the deep snow cover in any sunshine next week should bring the tan along nicely and give me the Spring alpine skier look ! 

Cycling may not be as easy though 

Trouble is, the arc of the sun near the zenith is very shallow (for an hour or two either side). Notwithstanding, if some of the 2s are rounded (eg from 2.4) it would be possible for a round to 3 (from 2.5)

Camborne just got a 2 yesterday, and a 1.9 today.

Reading 2.0 Right on the line! First proper one of the year.

London 1.5

Camborne 1.8

2.o again in Reading, but on a 6 mile southerly-track walk in the Winchester area, my face rouged enough for the whole family to notice.

Same here Bertie. The sun was strong enough to warm the inside of the car today despite driving at 70 mph on the motorway with an air temperature of 3c (37f).

Just goes to show how strong that sun is becoming as we approach March.

Snow showers or cloud it must have been that kept Reading's reading at 1.8 tops today. But the time is upon us- the accelerating curve is only weeks away.