Forecast

Pollen and fungal spores will be a nuisance during the hot weather ahead!

At the start of the week, it will remain largely dry and sunny in Lower Austria. Only in the Waldviertel region may there be heavy rain on Monday afternoon, providing some short-term relief for those with pollen allergies. In the rest of Lower Austria, pollen counts will continue unabated. Over the course of the week, maximum daily temperatures in Lower Austria will rise above the 35-degree mark. People with pollen allergies can generally expect moderate levels of pollen, whilst those who react to fungal spores should prepare for moderate to high levels of fungal spore count.

The peak of grass pollen season has passed in the Weinviertel, the Danube region and the Vienna Basin. Low or moderate levels of pollen are generally expected here. However, there may still be locally intense pollen counts in forests or along streams. As long as the sun is shining, symptom-triggering grass pollen may be present in the southern mountainous regions of Lower Austria. If the wind is blowing in the right direction, grass pollen can be carried from there into the lowlands, increasing local pollen levels. This is particularly likely in the afternoon and evening. 

People who are sensitive to grass pollen should be aware of flowering maize fields. Maize pollen is among the largest in the plant kingdom and therefore only travels short distances. As a result, high pollen counts occur only in the immediate vicinity of maize fields.

As for meadows, stinging nettles, sorrel and plantain continue to flower and contribute to pollen levels.

The flowering of common mugwort is gathering pace, though it will be a few more days before it reaches its peak. Dense stands, such as those found on railway embankments, rubbish tips, roadsides and along streams and rivers, should be avoided by people with sensitivities. For this group of allergy sufferers, cross-reactions to celery, carrots and camomile may occur.

Ragweed is also growing and sprouting; it will be some time yet – well into August – before it flowers. If you spot ragweed populations whilst out and about, you are welcome to report them via the ‘Ragweed Finder’ citizen science platform. Reports can be submitted either via the website ragweedfinder.at or via the app (for Android and iOS). The reports are reviewed by experts from the “Ragweed Finder” team, plotted on the ragweed map and forwarded at regular intervals to the relevant authorities in the federal states. These authorities can then use the sightings to take further action.

With the warm, damp weather expected over the coming days, allergy sufferers who are sensitive to fungal spores should prepare for moderate to high levels of exposure. Relief can be found by spending time at higher altitudes, as exposure to fungal spores decreases significantly with increasing altitude.

In addition to the pollen types already mentioned, pollen from bee balm, umbellifers, amaranths, papilionaceous plants and juniper is currently also present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a low allergenic risk.