The graciously warm May weather has also brought with it an increased risk of sunburns.

However, as Dan Kulak from Environment Canada explains, hot weather doesn’t always equal a high UV Index.

“The UV Index and temperature are not actually related. It’s not like a hot summer day has a higher UV index than a cooler summer day at the same time of the year. It’s really all related to ozone and the angle of the sun over the horizon and basically just that type of UV exposure and the cloud cover.”

Kulak says that partly cloudy days can sometimes bring the highest UV risk as the rays are reflecting off the clouds and producing more UV.

Today’s forecast is calling for a UV Index of 7, which is in the high category, but Kulak says it’s not that unusual as we head towards summer.

“As we get into June, which is the highest sun angles of the year. Southern Alberta, we can often see UV Indexes in the 8 range; we are pushing into the 7 range today for Airdrie. The 7 to 8 range is probably what you can generally expect on clear days for the next couple of months for Southern Alberta in the middle part of the day.”

Kulak says that on days like this, it’s always good to use sunscreen, wear hats and protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

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