Forecast

Ragweed causes intense allergic stress!

The late summer weather is again providing good conditions for the pollen count this week. Only the precipitation expected on Tuesday afternoon could provide a brief period of relief.

The main cause of the current allergic symptoms is ragweed pollen, which originates from North America. As part of the "Ragweed Finder" citizen science project, a number of local populations of this member of the ragweed family have been reported in and around Vienna. However, as the wind will also blow from a south-easterly direction in the coming days, the long-distance transport of ragweed pollen from more distant areas may further intensify the burden and reach a high to very high level.

Canadian goldenrod, another member of the aster family, is also flowering and dusting. Its pollen can also lead to allergic reactions in people who are sensitised to mugwort or ragweed. However, as the plant specialises primarily in insect pollination, relevant quantities of pollen grains in the air can only be expected in its immediate vicinity.

Mugwort, on the other hand, has already passed its first peak of exposure and is currently only detected in low concentrations in the ambient air. However, further plants may start to flower by the end of September and thus cause a further peak in pollution. Sensitised people should therefore continue to avoid dense populations of this composite plant, which can be found on the edges of fields, paths and roads, for example.

Some grass species continue to flower in the Vienna Woods, on green spaces in Vienna or along roadsides. One example of this is dog's tooth grass. However, only low concentrations of grass pollen are currently being recorded at our measuring station.
However, with the reed blossom expected in September, there may be a further increase in pollution. This is due to locally flowering reed populations on the one hand and the reed belt around Lake Neusiedl, one of the largest in Europe, on the other. If the wind blows in the right direction during this time, the pollen can be transported as far as Vienna.

Plantain and stinging nettle dust and can cause additional pollution.

In Vienna, moderate to high concentrations of fungal spores will be reached in the coming days. Particularly after the precipitation expected on Tuesday, there may be short-term pollution peaks.

Other types of pollen detected in the ambient air are bindweed, hemp, hops, umbellifers, goosefoot, cloves and cypress. These are of minor allergological significance.