The hay fever season starts in March
The hay fever season starts in March
After what's felt like an incredibly long winter we can finally look forward to some warmer weather. This weekend has shown glimpses of spring with temperatures rising to 17C, but from the end of March we should begin to properly notice the change of season.
But for many people, this nice weather brings the damning prospect of hayfever. Lasting roughly half the year between March and September, a recent study found that 49 per cent of people in the UK have a pollen allergy
This being said, factors such as the weather and simply where you live in the UK can have a drastic impact on how much you are affected by it.
Hayfever sufferers should start to notice it this month with tree pollen prevalent from the end of March until mid-May.
Grass pollen is the most common of these allergens in the UK and lasts from mid-May until July. This usually peaks during the first two weeks of June, and then again in the first two weeks of July.
London has a longer hayfever season than cooler parts of the UK and is away from the coast, which can increase pollen counts. However, the urban environment means it fares much better than nearby rural areas in Surrey and Hertfordshire.
The Met Office says weed pollen can be released at any time but the season typically covers the end of June to September.
London's hayfever season
Hay fever cases will peak in June and July (Image: Ray Wise/Getty)
A pollen calendar published by the University of Worcester suggests London's hayfever season kicks off in early March and continues until the end of September.
Ash and birch pollen will be most noticeable in London this month as their pick begins later this month. The university study says there is a high risk of allergy to ash pollen until early May and birch pollen until mid-May.
London plane and oak are the next to experience pollen peaks. The former has the highest counts from early April until late May, while the latter peaks from mid-April until the end of May.
This year may be particularly bad for tree pollen
As previously mentioned, grass pollen ranges from early March until late September but is most noticeable in May, June and July. Finally, nettle pollen ranges from late March until late September but peaks from late May until early September.
Scientists at the University of Worcester expect this year to be particularly bad for pollen. Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior palynologist and pollen forecaster, said: "Trees that produce allergenic pollen in the UK tend to have alternating high and low years of severity – this year is a high year."
She added that high temperatures in spring and early summer last year have contributed to this.
Dr Adams-Groom continued: "Mild, dry weather with breezes provides the best conditions for pollen release and that is what is forecast for the next week or so."
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