Sun safe for Bank Holiday: Check out our UV Index

Did you know that you can check UV Index levels in your location via the Weather & Radar app? Simply head to your home screen and scroll down.

This Bank Holiday, make sure you are staying sun safe. You can see the day's peak UV through the forecast card or an hourly breakdown with the dedicated UV Index feature.

With more in the way of sunshine across southern portions of the UK and Ireland over the weekend, UV levels could hit ends of the moderate scale, at around a 5, peaking from around midday.

No matter what time of year it is, winter or summer, the UV Index can still be impactful. Any moderate level of UV, from three and above, requires some form of additional protection.

At the lower levels this includes applying sunscreen, while stronger UV in the summer months may lead you to avoid midday sun and to cover up.

Especially after the dark winter months, the skin often does not yet have sufficient self-protection. The strength of the sun in spring is also often underestimated. During this time of the year, the sun is as strong as it is in mid-August.

During the summer months, UV index in the UK and Ireland often reaches moderate levels daily beneath unbroken sunshine. Even on a cloudy day, UV levels can still be high, with UV able to be reflected and scattered in the clouds.

Across the UK and Ireland, UV levels tend to reach 7 on the hottest days. At this level, there is a risk of burning within 30-60 minutes.

If you're headed out this weekend, be sure to check the UV Index level near you inside our app. Although recent weeks haven't been especially warm, even overcast days can see harmful levels of UV in the spring months!