Hayfever season strikes early as mild winter sparks early pollen ‘explosion’

HAYFEVER season has struck early this year, much to sufferers’ dismay, with experts blaming milder weather.

Meteorologists say spring-like conditions seen this February have meant tree pollen released a week early. 

AlamyPollen count will rise higher in the coming days as the country sees warmer temperatures of up to 11°C[/caption]

Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, chief pollen forecaster for the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, said: “People are calling and saying they’ve already got hay fever this year.

“It’s due to the mild February,” she added.

The University of Worcester’s weekly pollen forecast has called the tree pollen count this week “moderate”.

It predicts the pollen count will rise higher in the coming days as the country sees warmer temperatures of up to 12°C on Thursday.

Sufferers have taken to the social media app X, formally Twitter, to express their dismay at the sneezy season having already begun.

“How is hayfever flogging me in February? It’s gonna be a long, long summer,” one user named Mr Tetts (@MrTetts_YP), from West London, said.

Olivia (@oliviabking), also from London, added: “I was searching hayfever on this app to see if it was just me or anyone else experiencing it this early”.

Another user, Julie Nisbet (@julienisbet) from Durham, said: “Anyone else’s hayfever started already?

“Had awful headaches for two days that can’t be shifted with ibuprofen and gritty, itchy eyes, right!”

‘Mild air has kicked off the pollen season early’

Hayfever is an allergic reaction to grass, tree, fungal or weed pollen, typically occurring when it comes into contact with a person’s mouth, nose, eyes and throat.

According to the NHS, it is “usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy”.

Around 20 per cent of hayfever sufferers are allergic to tree pollen.

Tree pollen season usually lasts from late March to mid-May, but it can vary slightly depending on the weather and where you live. 

ITV weatherman Chris Page added: “Mild air has kicked off the pollen season early.

“Tree pollen is increasing to high in the south on Monday.”

The UK trees most likely to cause problems are birch, alder, hazel, and horse chestnut.

Forecasters at the University of Worcester said: “Hazel, alder and elm pollen will continue this week at a generally moderate risk, with the highest counts when maximum temperature exceeds 10°C.

“Willow and ash are just starting in the south, although these are milder allergens, and yew pollen will irritate some people in northern regions.”

Grahame Madge a Met Office spokesman, added: “Alder is one of the earliest trees to flower in the year.

“It is a widespread tree in the UK, and its catkins produce plentiful pollen.

“However, although some hayfever sufferers are susceptible to tree pollen, the majority are allergic to grass pollen grains which emerge later in the year, typically mid to late summer.”