Forecast

Rain brings some relief!

The weather forecast predicts changeable conditions for the coming days. Apart from Thursday, when the sun is set to prevail across the country, clouds, rain and thunderstorms will dominate the weather. It is not until the weekend that we can expect more hours of sunshine again. Depending on their intensity, the expected rainfall may wash pollen out of the air, thereby reducing the expected pollen count. However, as soon as it becomes dry again, those with grass pollen allergies should expect higher pollen levels.

Weather permitting, brome grass, false oat-grass, false barley, annual meadow grass, vernal grass, cock's foot grass, ryegrass and foxtail grass are usually the main contributors to the moderate to high pollen levels recorded.

In meadow areas, additional levels may also be caused by sorrel and plantain.

Some rye fields are also already flowering. Due to human influence, rye pollen is significantly larger than that of other grass species and cannot therefore be carried as far by the wind. Higher rye pollen concentrations are therefore only to be expected in the immediate vicinity of the fields.

In the higher-altitude regions of Austria, the green alder is responsible for significant pollen dispersal, weather permitting. This can cause symptoms in people who are sensitised to the pollen of other alder species, as well as in those who react with allergic symptoms to other birch trees.

In the east and south of the country, people who are sensitive to olive tree pollen may have to expect low concentrations of olive tree pollen in the air.

Linden blossom is in full swing. As the flowers of this plant are adapted to insect pollination, they are generally quite rare in the air. However, their scent can irritate the airways of sensitive individuals.

At higher altitudes, conifer pollen is also still present in the air. This is released by the Swiss stone pines still in bloom there. From an allergological perspective, however, this is of little relevance.

The tree of heaven, found in nutrient-poor and dry locations (such as railway embankments or wasteland), may already be releasing pollen. This is a neophyte from Asia that is spreading as an invasive plant in temperate or Mediterranean climate zones. Allergic skin reactions have already been documented.

Our air samples also contain increasing levels of fungal spores, which can cause symptoms in people with allergies.

In addition to the pollen types mentioned, the pollen spectrum currently also includes nettles, umbellifers, elder, black locust, sour grasses, legume family, spirea, walnut and cypresses. However, these pose only a very low allergenic risk.