The weather forecasts are tough for this week: a heat wave makes our little country a tropical destination. Avoid getting burned too quickly by checking the UV index on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Check the UV index on your iPhone: this is how you prevent burns
We don’t burn on the hottest day of the year, but we do on that one day with a cool breeze. How is that possible? The temperature has no influence on the strength of the sun, the so-called UV index. If you want to spend a day at the beach, for example, it is therefore wise to also look at this. If the sun turns out to be very strong, you know that you have to go into the shade every now and then to avoid returning home as a red lobster.
How does the UV index work?
The UV index is divided into a scale from 1 to 10. Each number indicates how powerful the sun is at that time of day. You can also consult this information in the standard Weather app in iOS and watchOS. But first it is useful to know what each number means.
- 0: zero solar power and no chance of burning;
- 1-2: virtually no sun power, the skin discolors between 50 and 100 minutes, no chance of burning;
- 3-4: sun power is weak, you discolour within 25 to 35 minutes, little chance of burning;
- 5-6: moderate sun power, the skin turns red between 15 and 25 minutes where you burn easily;
- 7-8: strong sun power, skin turns red between 10 and 15 minutes, risk of rapid burns high;
- 9-10: extreme sun power, within 10 minutes the skin turns red, very fast risk of burning.
The numbers therefore indicate how quickly you can burn. This is based on unprotected skin. Especially with a high UV value, always make sure you apply yourself to prevent burning (as much as possible).
This is how you check the UV index on your iPhone or Apple Watch
It is easy to check which sun power applies at your location on your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. It is even possible to install a complication for your main screen on your Apple Watch. This complication is only available on the infographic watch face.
- Open the Weather app;
- Make sure to check the weather for your current location (or any other preferred location);
- Scroll down and look at the number under the heading ‘UV index’.
Do you want more tips for these sunny days? Check out everything you need to know about swimming with an Apple Watch or how to properly prepare your iPhone for vacation.