UV Index Resources
SunWise provides access to various applications and resources that can help you stay safe in the sun.
UV Index Resources
Related Resources
- National Weather Service UV Index information
- World Health Organization UV radiation page
- International UV Index pages
- INTERSUN - The global UV Project: A guide and compendium (PDF) (25pp, 404K)
- EPA's ultraviolet monitoring program
- American Meteorological Society Station Scientist Home
- The Global Solar UV Index (PDF) (18 pp, 429 KB) - Recommendations for UV Index reporting from the World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization, the United National Environment Programme and the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection, adopted by EPA and the National Weather Service in May, 2004 .
World Health Organization's INTERSUN
The World Health Organization's INTERSUN program has developed a graphics package, including a UVI logo, an international color code for different UVI values, and a choice of ready-made graphics for reporting the UVI and sun safety messages. The materials may be downloaded from the WHO website and used free of charge.
To request a CD-ROM containing formats other than GIF, please write to UVInfo(uvinfo@who.int)
- UV Index widget for your website or blog
- UV Index alert email
- UV Index smartphone apps
- Windows 7 and Windows Vista UV Index gadget
- iGoogle UV gadget
UV Index Widget
EPA wants to promote sun-safe behaviors and reduce your exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Making it easy to access the UV Index, a standardized scale of solar UV intensity, is a way to reach that goal. Being aware of UV intensity lets all of us take appropriate actions to avoid health risks.
We encourage you to help EPA promote UV awareness. Incorporate our UV Index widget into your website.
The UV Index widget allows you to insert in your web page a lookup function for the daily UV Index forecast. The widget provides the same lookup by ZIP Code that is available in the SunWise UV Index Web page.
The UV Index forecast for the United States is issued each evening for the following day. It gives the predicted intensity of ultraviolet radiation at noon.
You can add the UV Index widget to your page! The widget makes it easy for everyone to find out their UV Index, wherever they are. Click the gray button under the widget to add it to your page.
How can I display UV Index information on my site?
The SunWise Program has developed an XML code that allows a Web developer versed in XML (Extensible Markup Language) to display UV Index and Alert forecasts on any Web site. The information is searchable by ZIP Code and city, state, making it useful for any organization, either local or national. Users do not have to leave your site to see the forecast.
- The Alert Services Page shows what services are currently offered.
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WSDL gives the code.
Problems? Contact SunWise (sunwise@epa.gov).
What does e-mail have to do with skin cancer prevention?
In 2005, SunWise developed a system called EnviroFlash UV that sends subscribers an e-mail containing the daily UV Index forecast for their city or ZIP Code.
You can also subscribe to receive e-mails only on days when there is a UV Alert for your area.
E-mails go out in the early evening so you have plenty of time to prepare for your next day’s activities. If you planned on going on a picnic, and the UV Index is predicted to be a 10 for that Zip code, you’ll know that you will need to be extra careful to minimize sun damage to your skin and eyes. It’s also easy to subscribe and unsubscribe, so if you’ll be traveling for a few days, and you have access to your e-mail, you can receive the local UV Index wherever you are.
- More Information about UV Alerts
- You can also check the UV Index from our UV Index Forecast Page
We developed this QR code to spread awareness of the UV Index and encourage the public and private entities to use it. Please note that under Federal ethics rules, EPA may not endorse products or services provided by private entities.
UV Index smartphone apps
EPA developed smartphone apps to get the UV Index out to the public. By giving people an easy way to access the UV Index, it’s more likely to be checked.
The UV Index is presently available from EPA as a free app for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, as well as other web-enabled phones. Additionally, EPA has a strong desire to keep the UV Index smartphone apps up-to-date and is therefore, interested in cooperating with app developers to ensure that the public continues to have access to the UV Index on the latest smartphones. Note that EPA can only work with app developers who expressly agree not to submit claims for compensation for the development of said apps. The EPA does not endorse any commercial products, services or enterprises.
Please contact Robert Burchard (burchard.robert@epa.gov), or call (202) 343-9126 if you are interested in joining a cooperative effort to keep this free, easy-to-use public health tool up-to-date.
UV Index Gadget for Windows 7 & Windows Vista
Download the installation file for the UV Index Gadget.
Once downloaded, double-click to install.