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Even if you don’t sunburn very easily, VegasMadeEasy.com recommends SPF 15 or higher sunscreen and lip balm, sunglasses and non-open weave clothes if you are outdoors a lot. Sunscreen requires repeated applications and some have not tested well so consider high SPF clothing if you burn easily. A typical t-shirt has an SPF of roughly 7 while high UV protection clothing goes into the 40-50+ range.
Here is a link to an American company that supplies UV protective clothing. Note that Australia tests for ultraviolet protection on new clothes while U.S. testing is after the equivalent of 40 washings. VegasMadeEasy.com recommends both Australian and American high UV protection clothing but with the edge to the U.S.
Some visitors to Vegas from the east coast are used to UV Index peaks in the 6-8 range but a few times, Vegas UV peaks have been over 12. Recently July has been averaging 10.96 at peak readings. Each point on the UV scale is 25 milliwatts per square meter.
UV readings have been creeping higher over the years. Our proprietary numbers are based on the most recent years, not the Las Vegas averages that partially go back to 1994 since they may not reflect today’s level of ozone damaged conditions.
During peak months, prepare for UV readings in the Very High to Extreme range from roughly 11 am to 4 pm. The solar noon for Las Vegas is about 2-11 minutes before 1 pm during the summer. Mid-June averages around 12:49 pm for solar noon as an example.
High UV Index readings are not the same as high temperatures. Peak temperatures occur very late afternoon during the summer with Vegas highs at about 4 pm and lows at 4 am. Unless there are extremely heavy, shifting cloud cover conditions, the UV Index peaks at solar noon. Harmful UV radiation penetrates most cloud covers.
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Description
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UV Index
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Sunburn Time*
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| Low |
1-2
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60 Minutes
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| Moderate |
3-5
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30 Minutes
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| High |
6-7
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| Very High |
8-10
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| Extreme |
11+
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15 Minutes
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| *Varies Substantially | | |
| *For Fair but Tannable Skin | | |
   
  
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