Tree pollen is dominating, and early-season numbers recommend one other intense allergy season forward.
ATLANTA, Georgia — If it felt just like the pollen hit you the second you walked outdoors right now, you’re positively not alone.
The complete pollen rely has are available in at 2,792 grains per cubic meter, which is firmly in that very excessive vary. In easy phrases, that’s greater than sufficient to set off signs, whether or not it’s sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, or simply that common “spring haze” feeling.
Right now, timber are doing many of the heavy lifting. Pine, oak, candy gum, sycamore, and birch are the primary contributors. You’ve in all probability observed the layer of yellow mud in your automobile or porch, that’s largely from pine timber. It’s messy and in all places this time of yr, regardless that timber like oak and birch are inclined to trigger extra allergy signs.
All of this knowledge comes from Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s pollen counting station, which is licensed by the National Allergy Bureau. It’s the one NAB-certified station within the Atlanta space, and it measures what number of pollen grains are floating round in a cubic meter of air over a 24-hour interval, giving us a stable image of what we’re inhaling.
And truthfully, this season didn’t waste any time getting began. We are formally into the 2026 pollen season, and it’s already been fairly lively. Back on March 12, the rely hit 3,226, which is the second-highest early-season studying ever recorded for mid-February by way of mid-March. So far this yr, we’ve already had 10 excessive pollen days and 3 days that reached the extraordinarily excessive class.
If final yr is any indication, we could possibly be in for extra of the identical. Between mid-February and mid-May of 2025, pollen ranges had been within the excessive or extraordinarily excessive vary 63 % of the time. In different phrases, most days through the peak season had been powerful for allergy victims.
Now, right now’s quantity is excessive, however it’s nonetheless nowhere close to essentially the most excessive day we’ve seen. That honor goes to March 29, 2025, when Atlanta shattered a 35-year file with a large rely of 14,801. That was a really brutal day when you take care of allergic reactions.
Days like right now are inclined to feel worse due to the climate setup. When it’s dry, pollen sticks round within the air longer, and with lighter winds, it simply type of hangs there as an alternative of getting blown away. Add in a number of timber pollinating on the identical time, and it actually builds up.
If you’re attempting to get by way of a day like this, a couple of easy issues can assist. Keeping your home windows closed, particularly within the afternoon, can reduce down on how a lot pollen will get inside. It additionally helps to alter garments and rinse off after you’ve been open air. And you probably have an air filter at dwelling, right now’s day to make use of it.
