When does sunscreen expire?  I often find myself asking that question as I pull a bottle of sunscreen out from the depths of my cabinet.  For the record, I have an collection of sunscreens.  Some I wear in the winter, some I wear everyday and some I wear only in the summer.   Anyway, at the beginning of these seasons, I often wonder (as may you) if the sunscreen inside the bottle is expired.

So, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least 3 years.   The ideal way to know if sunscreen is still “fresh” is to purchase a bottle with an expiration date.   

Keep this in mind:  If we are using sunscreen properly (and daily) we would be using several bottles each season.  You need to lay the sunscreen on thick and reapply as directed for maximum protection.

While we are on the topic, click here to learn about new sunscreen regulations in effect from the FDA. 

We had been experiencing drought conditions this spring but over the last few weeks we’ve picked up some much needed rainfall.

Area rivers had been running very low over last the few months but now the Connecticut River is up to 6 feet at the Springfield Yacht Club in Agawam. A month ago it wasn’t even at one foot.

So far this month we’ve picked up close to 2 inches of rain which has really helped with the rainfall deficit we had during March and April. And there is more rain on the way next week.

With plenty of water in the rivers now and with nice weather this weekend people are starting to take their boats out, but remember the water is still very cold. Water temperatures are only in the 50s so you should stay out of the water or you could risk getting hypothermia.

This is a reminder that 22News will host a Skywarn training session from 7p-10p on Thursday May 31st.  Skywarn is the National Weather Service’s official network of “civilian” storm spotters.  If you are fascinated by weather, this training is right up your alley!!!   The 3 hour training will teach you how to identify and report severe weather for the National Weather Service.  The training is free and no reservations are required.  I look forward to seeing you here at 22News on May 31st!

As we continue with Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month, here’s a link to the National Weather Service’s UV index map.  The map is updated daily, with the UV levels rated from 0 to 11, which correspond to time to unprotected skin damage.  We encourage you to wear sunscreen or sun protective clothing every day.  As we get into summer, you’ll notice that even on cloudy days, the UV index can be high or very high.  In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology,  on cloudy days up 80% of UV rays can make the trip from the sun to our skin.

The US Geological Survey has made a fascinating illustration of how much water is in, on & above the Earth.  If we were able to take all that water and collect it into a sphere, it would reach from Salt Lake City, Utah to Topeka, Kansas; and be about 860 miles high!  In the year 2000, we used about 323 billion gallons per day of surface water and about 84.5 billion gallons per day of groundwater.  That’s a lot of water! Keep all this in mind, the next time you turn on the faucet!

Could Dinosaur gas have contributed to a warmer pre-historic  climate?  You’re darn tootin!   While this has no bearing on our current climate, and some scientists are already poking holes in the theory, it’s an entertaining theory! Click here to see the article from the Wall Street Journal.

Courtesy: Sandy Adams

First up to bat: a “supermoon”.

On deck: the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.

In the hole: the first solar eclipse of 2012.

The skywatching action starts this weekend with a double-header!

This Saturday, there will be a big, bright “supermoon”!  “Supermoon” is the nickname for a full moon that coincides with the moon’s perigee – the closest approach to Earth.  When the moon is in its full phase and at perigee, it can appear much brighter and slightly larger than the average full moon.  With the moon a mere 221,802 miles from Earth, it should appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter!  Be sure to check it out around 11:35 PM Saturday night!!

At the same time as the supermoon, the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to hit its peak..BUT the bright full moon will likely keep you from seeing the shooting stars.  The Eta Aquarids occur between  late April and early May when the Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Halley’s comet.  Since this meteor shower coincides with the supermoon, only the brightest shooting stars will be visible.  NASA scientists are predicting 40-60 meteors per hour!

Courtesy: Mikael Svalgaard

And finally, the first solar eclipse of 2012 will occur on May 20th!  The eclipse will be visible from California to Texas, the rest of the US will only see a partial eclipse.  Hey..it’s better than nothing..  The moon will pass in front of the Sun, but it won’t completely block the Sun – this is called an annular solar eclipse!  Unlike a total eclipse, an annular one leaves a ring of the sun.  (See photo.)

If you take any great shots of the “supermoon”, meteor shower (what can be seen of it), or the eclipse, be sure to send them to us!  REPORTIT@WWLP.COM

-Meteorologist Ashley Baylor

If you’ve traveled over the Coolidge Bridge between Northampton and Hadley this week, you may have seen some demonstrators on the sidewalk. 

These folks are a part of a global movement this week “connecting the dots.”   Connecting the dots means that recent extreme weather around the globe is related and connected to global climate change. The connecting the dots event is being organized by 350.org  The event will culminate on Saturday, with several events scheduled in western Massachusetts. 

When talking about climate change, I always encourage you to learn about the science  behind the opinions.  I encourage you to do that this time around as well.   At the very least, the events and information supporting  ”connect the dots” show that we ALL have had more than our fair share of unusual weather in recent years.

Now is the time to learn about skin cancer.   The harm the sun can do to you is something to take very seriously.   According to the American Academy of Dermatology,  More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed in the United States annually.  It is estimated that there will be about 131,810 new cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in 2012. 

According to the Melanoma Foundation of New England, The incidence of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is rising faster than that of any other cancer.  Although the average age of diagnosis is 52, melanoma is the second most common cancer in people aged 25-29.

You best bet to avoid skin cancer is to avoid unprotected exposure to the sun.  Wear clothing that protects you from the sun.  Apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or stronger) year round if you’re going to be outside.   AVOID INDOOR TANNING!  People who use tanning beds once a month before the age of 35 increase their melanoma risk by 75%.  This information from the Melanoma Foundation of New England.

Wilbraham native Meghan Rothschild is a melanoma survivor and skin caner prevention activist.  Much of what I’ve recently learned about skin cancer, I’ve learned from Meghan.  You need to learn her story of melanoma diagnosis, treatment and survival.  Please visit her website, survivingskin.org   to learn more about skin cancer prevention.

Oh, one last thing!  Some melanoma survivors (including Meghan Rothschild) put together a very moving video called “Dear 16 Year Old Me”.  Check it out! 

I recently received an email from a teacher. She invited me to stop by her classroom and go over a few weather topics that are on the MCAS exam.  I’ll be stopping by soon.  But, if you have a kid or a class of kids that need some help understanding weather.  You may want to invest in the USA Today Weather Book.    You won’t earn a meteorology degree reading this book, but you will get easy to understand explanations of weather processes.  The illustrations are easy to understand and paired with concise text explanations.  I’ll be looking ai it before my next school visit!