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Hay fever symptoms spike as grass pollen season hits peak

A close-up shot of long grass against a dark green backgroundPA Media
Ben Rich
Lead Weather Presenter
Shireen Jordan
BBC Weather

Have itchy eyes or sneezing been getting the better of you recently?

It could be that you are allergic to grass pollen which affects about 95% of hay fever sufferers and is at its peak from now until July.

Weed pollen will also start to play a part from June until September.

It is estimated that 13 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever - an allergy to different pollens.

The exact dates vary depending on where you live, with towns and cities generally likely to have less than rural areas.

Close-up of ragweed with blurred out of image of person blowing their nose behind, kneeling and wearing a straw hatGetty Images / Roy Morsch

In early spring the main culprit is tree pollen which the Met Office says affects around 25% of sufferers annually.

This year most regions had high or very high levels, which was not helped by the dry, warm and windy weather which creates the ideal conditions for its release.

According to the Met Office UK Pollen Forecast Manager, Yolanda Clewlow:

"Looking ahead at the coming few months, the prediction is for an average grass pollen season overall, due largely to the dry spring."

A close-up shot of catkins hanging from the branch of a hazel treeGetty Images

Different types of pollen are released during the year and weather conditions can affect its distribution

Is the pollen count high today in my area?

Day-to-day changes in the weather can make a big difference to how much pollen is produced and how easily it spreads.

Up to date forecasts are available on the BBC Weather website and app throughout the summer.

Just search for your location and you will find the latest data alongside the UV forecast.

A screenshot from the BBC Weather app showing a forecast for Manchester - including a prediction of very high pollen levels

Pollen forecasts for UK locations are available on the BBC Weather app

Weather conditions do affect the levels, for example rain can suppress it, whereas warmth and sunshine tend to boost it. However, on the very hottest days in summer the count can actually decrease.

The wind is also an important factor. On the calmest days pollen will struggle to even lift off the ground whereas very strong winds will disperse it far and wide meaning lower concentrations in any particular place.

Hay fever and climate change

The impact of climate change on pollen is likely to be mixed.

For instance, research by the University of Worcester found that the birch tree pollen season is getting more severe, while that from grass continues to fluctuate around the long-term average.

Oak and grass pollen seasons are starting earlier which is in line with research from other European countries.

Higher spring and summer temperatures were found to be driving these trends - as well as with changes in land use such as urbanisation and increasing amounts of woodland.

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