The amount of ultraviolet radiation impacting your skin is a function of sunangle and clearness of the sky. The biggest dose possible occurs when the sunclimbs highest in the sky which is now. The first day of summer is when the sunreaches that high point and for 30 days before and after the solstice, thesun's rays are very strong.The UV Index is often very high (10 or above) in the southwestern part of thecountry due to the clearness of the sky. Plus there is the sandy soil whichreadily reflects sunlight.
Beaches at middle and southern latitudes are also notorious for extremely highUV index levels. There, you have direct sunlight plus light reflected off thesand and the water.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
