Forecast

Changeable weather is causing fluctuating pollen levels!

Monday will still bring showers, offering some short-term relief for allergy sufferers. From Tuesday, the sun will break through, before rain sweeps across the country from the north again on Wednesday. Fluctuating pollen levels are therefore to be expected this week. The main allergen remains ragweed, which can cause significant discomfort, particularly in Burgenland, Lower Austria, Vienna, Styria and Carinthia.

Ragweed pollen is highly allergenic and can trigger significant allergic reactions even in the smallest quantities. As winds are predominantly expected to come from the north and west, long-distance transport from southern and south-eastern Europe is not anticipated for the time being. Nevertheless, local ragweed populations will cause high pollen levels on dry, sunny days.

Common mugwort has largely finished flowering; significant pollen levels are limited to the immediate vicinity of large stands. However, as annual mugwort and Kamchatka mugwort are beginning to flower sporadically, they may cause a second peak in pollen levels in some regions. Cross-reactions with ragweed are possible.

People with grass pollen allergies may experience symptoms again due to the flowering of reeds. As reeds are late-flowering plants that do not reach flowering until September, grass pollen concentrations may rise significantly once again, particularly in the vicinity of large reed beds – such as those around Lake Neusiedl – and may even reach considerable levels in some areas. As the wind is predominantly blowing from the north or west, long-distance transport of reed pollen from Burgenland to Lower Austria and Vienna is not expected for the time being.

Fungal spore levels are slowly falling to moderate levels, but may rise again temporarily following the rainfall on Monday and Wednesday.

Pollen from stinging nettles, goosefoot plants and plantain continues to be present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a low allergenic risk.