INAMHI Says UV Radiation Is Extreme Today — Wear Sunscreen If You're Headed to Any Carnival Events

Quick heads-up before you head out to any Carnival events today: INAMHI (Ecuador's meteorological agency) has issued an extreme ultraviolet radiation warning for the Sierra region, including Cuenca.

This isn't the usual "it's sunny, wear a hat" advisory. The UV index is expected to hit extreme levels (11+) during peak hours.

What This Means at 2,500 Meters

Cuenca sits at roughly 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level. At this altitude, you're already getting about 25-30% more UV radiation than you would at sea level — even on a cloudy day. The atmosphere is thinner, there's less filtering, and the equatorial position means the sun hits almost directly overhead.

When INAMHI classifies the UV index as "extreme," it means unprotected skin can burn in under 10 minutes for fair-skinned people, and in 15-20 minutes for darker skin tones.

When to Be Careful

The danger window is 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with peak intensity around noon to 1:00 PM. This is exactly when many Carnival events are happening.

If you're planning to:

• Watch the cultural events at Los Eucaliptos this morning
• Attend the Valentine's Serenade this afternoon at Casa de las Posadas
• Walk through El Centro for any Carnival activities
• Just run errands

...you need to protect yourself.

What to Do

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ — apply 20 minutes before going out, reapply every 2 hours. This isn't optional at altitude.
• Hat with a brim — baseball caps don't protect your ears and neck. A wide-brimmed hat is better.
• Sunglasses with UV protection — UV damage to your eyes is cumulative and irreversible. Cheap sunglasses without UV coating are worse than no sunglasses (they dilate your pupils without blocking UV).
• Seek shade during peak hours — if you're at an outdoor event, stand under a tree or awning between 11 AM and 2 PM.
• Stay hydrated — high UV days tend to coincide with lower humidity. Drink water even if you don't feel thirsty.

A Note for New Arrivals

If you recently moved to Cuenca from sea level, your skin has zero altitude adaptation. It doesn't matter if you "never burned" back home. The UV here is fundamentally different. Many expats learn this the hard way with a nasty sunburn in their first month, usually on a day they thought was overcast.

Clouds in Cuenca reduce visible light but let most UV through. If it's "cloudy but bright," you're still getting hit.

Enjoy Carnival — just respect the equatorial sun.

Sources: INAMHI, Metro Ecuador