When you move here you’ll notice only tourists have a tan. Floridians protect their skin with major UV suntan lotions and often wear a visor, cap or a hat with a wide brim.
Skin may be on the beaches. But you’ll see heads and skin covered whenever people are outdoors walking, running, pushing a stroller or at a pool or the beaches. Especially kids.
Boca Raton’s beach vendors even offer beach umbrellas for rent. That’s because Florida’s weather is not only warmer, the state is closest to the sun in the continental U.S. outside of Hawaii, which is first. It’s not the sunniest state per se. Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have us beat. But it’s probably the most vigilant. “Being close to the equator means that Florida receives stronger sunlight compared to other parts of the United States,” according to the experts. TV meteorologists here include the daily UV (ultraviolet) outlook in their weather and boating forecasts. Cars even have a darker window tint.
When it comes to the cost of air-conditioning, you’ll spend more heating your house back north. And you’ll be happy to know we’re not No. 1 on the major skin cancer risk, either. You’ll find Floridians have a dermatologist for routine annual checkups, they take sun exposure so seriously.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your family, especially during this warmer season?
Keep track of your sun exposure, especially when you’re outdoors playing sports, like golf, tennis or pickleball or at the beach. You may want to time your sun exposure to earlier or later in the day this time of year.
Here’s Florida State University’s Florida Climate Center’s analysis for the upcoming season: Florida’s Hot Season – Florida Climate Center
