If you have noticed your eyes are watering a bit more, your throat is a bit itchy, or you can’t stop sneezing, you are likely already dealing with an early arrival to allergy season. Pollen levels have been on the rise over the last couple of weeks, and they are forecast to only get worse.
The El Nino pattern we’ve been in over the winter kept temperatures higher than average, Elwell said.
Because of this, spring pollens have arrived earlier. Some experts believe the 2016 allergy season could be one of the worst in many years thanks to an earlier start of spring growth in trees and plants.
The latest forecast for pollen levels over the next several days indicates an increase in Alder, Birch and Maple pollens here in the Miami Valley.
By Wednesday and Thursday, pollen levels are expected to be high, according to data from pollen.com.
An increase in rain showers should help remove some of the pollen by the end of the week and into the weekend.
However, with more spring-like weather in store for next week, allergy sufferers should not expect much relief. And with the official arrival of spring now about 12 days away, more types of pollen will be filtering in the air as more plants and trees awaken early from their winter slumber.