Forecast

Grass and fungal spores continue to cause high levels of pollution!

Today, Monday 13 July 2026, it will remain mainly sunny and hot across Austria, with maximum daytime temperatures of between 26 and 34 degrees. On Tuesday, the midsummer weather will continue, with the air becoming increasingly muggy. On Wednesday, the risk of thunderstorms will increase – particularly in the western parts of the country, where heavy showers and thunderstorms may occur in places. On Thursday, 16 July, the weather will gradually stabilise, with clouds clearing and the sun breaking through again. However, thunderstorms are still expected in Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

People with allergies should prepare for persistently high levels of allergen exposure over the coming days. The ongoing heat is encouraging the release of grass pollen, whilst thunderstorms can cause concentrations of fungal spores in the air to spike.

The pollen grains of grasses remain the main cause of allergic symptoms. The main flowering season for grasses has now shifted from open green spaces to forests, as well as to areas near river courses and higher low-mountain ranges. In the lowlands, the main grass flowering season is largely over, whilst moderate to high concentrations continue to be recorded at higher altitudes. Moderate to high concentrations of grass pollen are still to be expected, particularly near unmown meadows and pastures in higher low-mountain ranges.

In some regions of the country – such as Burgenland and parts of Lower Austria – maize fields have already begun to flower. Maize belongs to the sweet grass family and can therefore trigger symptoms in sensitised individuals. However, maize pollen grains are very large and, like the pollen of other cereal crops, cannot be carried very far by the wind. They therefore cause significant concentrations in the air, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the fields.

Along the edges of paths and roads, additional pollen levels from sorrel, foxtail plants and plantain are to be expected.

In locations with particularly favourable climatic conditions, the first flowering specimens of mugwort have already been spotted. This marks the start of the herb pollen season locally. It will probably take until the end of July for the plants to flower across the board. Locally, however, low levels of allergenic exposure may already be occurring.

In addition to grasses, fungal spores are now also causing moderate to high levels of spore concentration in the ambient air. The warm, humid weather and the forecast thunderstorms – particularly on Wednesday and in the western parts of the country – may cause spore levels to rise even further in the short term. People who are sensitive to fungal spores should expect particularly high levels of spore concentration, especially after rainfall.

In Tyrol, the grass pollen season is gradually coming to an end, with pollen levels there increasingly concentrated at higher altitudes. In Carinthia, levels are still expected to remain high following the largely completed first mowing of the hay meadows.

In addition to the pollen types already mentioned, pollen from bee balm, nettle plants, sweet chestnut, privet, rhododendron, acid grasses, papilionaceous plants, grapevines and cypresses is currently also present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a very low allergenic risk.

Recommendations for people with allergies: In view of the persistently high temperatures and moderate to high pollen and spore levels, it is recommended that outdoor physical activities be scheduled for the early morning or late evening, when pollen concentrations are generally lower. After a thunderstorm, people with spore allergies should avoid spending time outdoors for a few hours. Wearing sunglasses and rinsing your hair in the evening can also help to reduce exposure to pollen.

Warning regarding ozone and thunderstorm asthma: As thunderstorms approach, ground-level ozone concentrations may rise briefly, which can further irritate the airways. Furthermore, pollen grains are torn apart by strong downdrafts (downbursts) and fragmented into extremely fine particles small enough to enter the lungs, which can penetrate deep into the airways. This can lead to sudden, severe asthma attacks in people with pollen allergies – even those who have not previously had asthma. People with a known history of asthma or hay fever are strongly advised to seek shelter indoors when thunderstorms are approaching and to keep their emergency medication to hand.