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CURRENT: 6 (High)
Spending the day in the Winnipeg sun in one of Winnipeg's hot summer days is always enjoyable, however, too much sun can be dangerous. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) may cause instant effects, such as, sunburn, and possible long term problems, like skin cancer and cataracts to name a couple. The UV index was created by the National Weather Service and the EPA. It is designed to help people prepare for the upcoming days, and prevent overexposure in high UV days.
There are many common steps someone can take to avoid illness and negative effects from the sun. 1) Do not let yourself burn. 2) Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds. 3) Avoid being in the sun during peak hours (11am-2pm). 4) Wear protective clothing that leaves your skin covered, and not exposed to the sun. 5) Regularly apply sunscreen with an SPF of atleast 15. 6) Stay in the shade. 7) Watch the UV index.
A rating of two or less means UV is low. It is fairly safe to be exposed to the sun for longer periods than normal. A rating of three to five is moderate. UV is not severe, but you shouldn't be out in the sun too long without protection. Six to eight is high. Sunscreen and other measure definitely need to be taken to avoid burning and other health issues. Eight to ten is very high. Exposure to sun should be limited, and proper protection is a must. Eleven and higher is extreme. This is extremely rare, but it does happen, and exposure to the sun should be minimal.