The spring season is now in full swing which means longer days and some much needed warmer weather after a long winter. But the start of spring also coincides with the beginning of hay fever season, which typically kicks in around late March.
The Met Office says tree pollen season has already started and those with sensitivity to it may have already noticed some unpleasant symptoms being triggered. The national forecaster says birch pollen is likely to be particularly high this season due to conditions last spring and summer, when the UK experienced its warmest meteorological spring and May since records began in 1884. Combined with even warmer temperatures at the end of last June, “conditions were ideal for pollen production”. Tree pollen season is followed by grass pollen season in mid-May until July, and weed pollen then follows from around June until September, so when hay fever symptoms are triggered will depend on what type of pollen you’re allergic to.
Allergy UK says to effectively manage hay fever requires a combination of understanding the triggers and using preventative measures to help minimise the effects, including not drying clothes outside in spring when pollen counts are high.
Pollen can cling to your clothes when outdoors, so if you leave your washing to dry outside for several hours you can end up bringing pollen back into your home, which can make your symptoms worse indoors.
It’s also worth showering and changing your clothes after you’ve been outside, as pollen can also cling to your skin and hair so it’s important to wash it off to prevent spreading it around your home.
Allergy UK explains: “Check pollen forecasts daily and stay indoors wherever possible when the tree pollen count is high. Hay fever symptoms usually appear when the pollen count exceeds 50. Rain washes pollen from the air so counts should be lower on cooler, wet days.
“Avoid drying clothes or linen outside when pollen counts are high. On high pollen days, shower and wash your hair and change your clothing, especially before going to bed. Wipe pets’ coats with a damp cloth to remove pollens when they have been outside.”
The Met Office says the best defence against hay fever is “being prepared” and said people can keep track of the levels using its pollen forecast, which now includes more detail about the pollen species.
UK Pollen Forecast Manager Yolanda Clewlow explains: “In previous years, just one pollen species has driven the forecast, switching during the season when the new species takes over.
“But this year, the forecast is able to allow multiple pollen species to be included in the output at the same time. This means different locations may be high for different species at the same time.
“So for example, there may be ‘high’ levels coming from grass in the southwest, while ‘high’ levels are from oak in Scotland. We would previously not have been able to show the pollen species in such detail.”
