Countdown to end of pollen season is on (2024)

FAQs

How long does yellow pollen last in NC? ›

The yellow pine pollen usually lasts about four to six weeks in central North Carolina.

Mid-February marks the start of allergy season in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it doesn't end until the first freeze in winter. The worst months for allergies are April, May, June, and September when tree, grass, and weed pollens are at their peak.

According to Carolina Asthma & Allergy, a clinic based in Charlotte, pollen season varies depending on where it comes from: Ragweed: August-December, highest in September. Grass: April-September, highest in May-August. Trees: March-June, highest in April.

It seems in Virginia, allergy season is almost year-round now thanks to climate change. The spring and fall seem to be the worst for many people, but it depends on your personal allergen triggers. In spring, we peak with tree and grass pollen. In fall, the weeds and grasses have their moment.

They're called "seasonal allergies" because each type of pollen has a season where they're most potent. Here's a general timeline of common pollen seasons: March through June is tree pollen season. June, July, and August is usually when the grass pollens are high, sometimes into September in a warm year.

Tree pollen season also often overlaps with grass pollen in the late spring and summer. Throughout the U.S., trees produce the most pollen from March through May. But in some regions, such as the South, trees may produce pollen as early as January and peak at multiple times during the year.

When Is The Pollen Count Low? On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.

Many plants produce most of their pollen during the night and early morning hours, and are then spread in the air during the day. Wind conditions have a great influence on the release of pollen and can carry the pollen high into the air by noon, only to drop again later in the afternoon.

Pollen can be hard to avoid in the spring, when pollen counts are high. If you suffer from this allergy, try to limit the time you spend outside on particularly high pollen count days.

Nasal steroids are often the first treatment doctors recommend. Some steroid sprays require a doctor's prescription, but three of them, budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy), fluticasone (Flonase), and triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24HR), do not.

How to avoid pollen allergy? ›

Stay indoors in the morning, if possible – grass pollens mainly circulate in the morning. Avoid mowing grass or wear a mask if you do – stay indoors when grass is being mowed. Keep windows closed in your home and car. Avoid picnics in parks or in the country during the pollen season.

Warmer temperatures have caused plants to blossom earlier and produce pollen longer than in previous decades. Air pollutants change pollen's elemental composition and damage its surface, making it more allergenic .

Tree pollen counts are higher when it's dry out. This is because trees release more pollen when there's less moisture in the air to weigh the pollen down, causing it to travel more easily. Light rain and humidity can wash pollen from the air. So if you have tree pollen allergies, rain is good news!

"Pollen seasons are starting earlier and getting worse with more pollen in the air," William Anderegg, associate professor at the University of Utah, told CBS News, pointing to heat as "one of the biggest drivers."

Most people are allergic to grass pollen, which is common in late spring and early summer. Tree pollen tends to be released during spring and affects around 25% of people. Weed pollen can be released at any time from the early spring to the late autumn.

Yellow pollen is caused by the release of spores from coniferous trees. The common types of conifers that are found in North America are pine trees, including spruce, fir trees, larch and hemlock. Although the specific type of conifer varies by region, coniferous forests are found throughout the United States.

The yellow colour results from the presence of flavonoids (Gould & Lister, 2006). Actually the term flavonoid includes anthocyanins (which are often red or purple) and they come in several groups, but all with the same basic structure of three linked carbon-atom rings (one heterocyclic).

Grass causes most late spring and summer pollen allergy symptoms during April through early June. But in warmer parts of the country, it can be found year-round.

When Is The Pollen Count Low? On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.