NORFOLK, Va. — "Sniff, sniff... achoo!" Sound familiar? If so, you or someone close to you may be suffering from tree pollen allergies.
It's that time of year again, and we are nowhere near the peak of tree pollen season. Actually, we are just getting started!
I want to share some of the ways weather impacts the pollen levels we experience.
Sure, you've heard of pollen. But do you know what it is? The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology defines pollen as tiny grains needed to fertilize many kinds of plants and trees.
While some pollens are carried from plant to plant by pollinators like bees, tree pollens are often carried by the wind. The weather can have a big impact on the amount of pollen a location experiences from day to day, and hour to hour.
Pollen counts are generally higher on warm, dry, and windy days. Conversely, the counts are normally lower when it is cool and wet.
Rain and high humidity typically weigh the pollen down and deposit it on the ground or other surfaces, preventing it from traveling in the wind, at least temporarily.
But too much rain at once can cause allergy problems too. Heavy downpours can saturate and fracture pollen, releasing small particles in higher concentrations into the air. People inhaling these high concentrations of particles can experience worse reactions. It's a condition the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology refers to as "Thunderclap Asthma".
So it may actually be better to have lighter showers over several days to lower pollen levels.
The amount of rain we get during the autumn and winter months can impact pollen levels the following spring. More rain during the chilly months can lead to more pollen down the road. And if we have a really warm winter, the pollen season can get an early start and last longer than usual.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also sees climate change as a contributor to higher pollen levels. The warmer temperatures not only support a longer growing season, but higher levels of carbon dioxide in the air also stimulate trees to increase pollen.
The tree pollen season normally goes from late February through June. Grasses also contribute their pollen from April to June. Ragweed kicks in a bit later in the summer and can continue through fall, from July to November.
As we continue to deal with the pollen over the coming months, 13News Now will keep you informed with daily updates on the levels we are seeing, and forecast when things may change in the coming days.