It may be warm and sunny out, but that’s made Saturday’s pollen count the highest it’s been all year.
With 1,922 pollen particles per cubic meter of air accumulating over the last 24 hours, even those who don’t typically suffer from springtime allergies may feel a little sneezy today, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Katie Walls said.
Warmer temperatures, sunshine and fewer cool mornings have triggered trees to pollinate more.
Pollen counts should continue to rise over the next couple of weeks, peaking in mid-April as temperatures warm, Walls said.
The primary contributors this time of year are pine, oak, sycamore, sweet gum and birch trees, and pollen counts are highest in the morning.
Spring pollen season usually starts in mid- to late March, but metro Atlanta’s pollen count soared to four digits much earlier this year.
RELATED: When does pollen season start in Atlanta?
“Not everyone is allergic to or irritated by the same thing,” Walls said, “but when numbers climb into the thousands, even if you’re not allergic to pollen, you could be irritated.”
In late April and May, grass pollen counts typically increase while tree pollen counts decline.
Those suffering from allergies this weekend may have to wait until Monday or Tuesday for relief, Walls said.
It’s expected to rain Saturday night as a cold front moves into metro Atlanta, but it probably won’t rain enough to dissipate pollen levels.
Cooler temperatures that are expected to drop into the 30s on Monday and Tuesday morning, however, could hamper pollen counts before they climb again later in the week.
MORE: Atlanta pollen: How to deal with those pesky pollen allergies
Allergy experts recommend removing your clothes after being outdoors to eliminate pollen irritants inside the home. That also means washing your animals who have been outside so they don’t bring allergens indoors, Walls said.
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