Wear your sunscreen Friday, weather experts warn

People with fair or light skin should be careful if they’re out and about Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

At around noon, the Los Angeles area will reach an ultraviolet index level of 11, which is classified as a “high” exposure level, said Craig Long, a research meteorologist with the weather service. An ultraviolet index is a measure of how much skin-burning ultraviolet radiation is coming down from the sun.

“If you can avoid being out in the middle part of the day, doing your activities in the morning or afternoon, you won’t be exposed to as much UV as you would in the central part of the day,” Long said.

The high UV level is due to a combination of the time of year, the weather conditions and the low pollution levels that will be in the air Friday. Since the skies will be clear, there are fewer pollution particles to scatter UV rays, Long said.

“The sun is as high above us as it’s going to get during the summer,” he said.

Though certain people are more sensitive to the sun’s rays than others, the key for everyone is limiting exposure and being prepared and cautious while out in the sun, Long said.

“It’s your dosage that really determines whether you get a sunburn or not,” he said.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Comments

[SeanBoy]

Feel that burn! Baby.

[Ess Jay]

Well, technically, the sun's going to be as high as it gets on noon Saturday, not Friday, as Saturday's the Solstice. But while UV is probably just a function of solar angle, atmospheric conditions also make a significant difference. That June Gloom will offer some small protection, relative to, say, July's theoretically clear skies.

[Miko34]

So ... "go outside and play when there's plenty of smog," is the moral of this story. Don't go out when the skies are clear. I love L.A.

[Gary]

Not Noon, Ess Jay, 1 PM. Remember, we are on Daylight Savings Time. 1 PM is really Noon.

[Jason C. Roberst]

After hearing about this on the radio this morning I decided to grab my lunch on my early break (9:30 A.M.) so that I can avoid any ca"tan"strophe.

[benspikey]

I'm melting.. Arrrgghhh...