Forecast

High levels of birch pollen over the Easter weekend!

After a rainy first half of Holy Week, the weather forecast for the coming Easter weekend promises a significant improvement in the weather throughout the country. This will make searching for Easter nests a joy, but also a challenge for pollen allergy sufferers - because the improvement in the weather is also expected to bring very high pollen concentrations in the surrounding air.

While the ash pollen season has already passed its peak in the lowlands of eastern Austria and in the valleys of Vorarlberg and can usually only cause moderate exposure, it will probably reach its peak from Tyrol to Upper Austria at the Easter weekend. People who are sensitised to the pollen of this olive tree plant should also refrain from placing the occasional forsythia branch that is still in bloom in the living room for decorative purposes, as this plant is also an olive tree plant and can cause cross-reactions under certain circumstances.

Due to the cold snap of the past few days, the birch pollen season has been delayed again this year. birch pollen season. In many parts of the country, the catkins have been ready to bloom for some time, but the cold and precipitation have largely prevented the release of pollen. Only on days when there were strong winds was it possible for the pollen to be released from the stamens, leading to low to moderate levels of pollution.

With the expected improvement in the weather, it can be assumed that many trees will start to dust at the same time, causing high to very high levels of pollution in large parts of Austria.

In addition, it can be assumed that the hornbeam will reach full bloom over Easter and may cause additional stress due to cross-reactions in people who are sensitised to birch pollen.

Allergy sufferers are also advised to avoid palm catkins in the living space. These are the flowers of the Sal willow, whose pollen is only classified as moderately allergenic, but can increase indoor exposure.

In addition to the pollen types mentioned, maple, yew, poplar and sour grasses are currently also allergenic, elmand cypress plants are also represented in the pollen spectrum. However, they only have a very low allergenic potential.

Despite the expected stress, the Austrian Pollen Information team wishes you a happy Easter and a relaxing holiday!