Sneezing in February

If it feels like spring, then it's going to act like spring.

All of this unseasonably warm weather is making trees pollinate.  So if you've got an itchy nose, runny eyes, congestion or other allergy symptoms right now, you can blame the very high pollen count.

Dr. Stanley Fineman is an allergist with the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic.  He says pollen counts have been up to 88 lately, which is very high and unusual for this time of year.

He says we typically see pollen counts like this later in March or April, and hardwood trees including oak, pine and cedar are to blame.

Weather can greatly affect pollen and mold counts.  Air temperature, wind speed and humidity all affect how much pollen and mold is airborne at a particular moment.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:
 

Hot, dry, windy days generally mean more pollens and molds are in the air. Pollen levels tend to be lower on rainy, cloudy, or windless days.

Rain tends to wash pollens out of the air. Smaller raindrops are more efficient at cleansing the air than larger droplets. Therefore, a gentle, prolonged rain shower tends to wash out more pollen than a brief, intense thunderstorm. In fact, thunderstorms can actually stir more pollen into the air.

Peak pollen times for many grasses tend to be early morning or early evening. Peak pollen release for other plants tends to be midday and afternoon. Generally, at ground level, the peak pollen count is between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and again between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Pollen counts fall during times of higher humidity and rise during low humidity. When the humidity goes up, pollen grains absorb moisture, which makes them heavy enough to fall to the ground. During low humidity, water evaporates from the pollen grains, making them lighter and more easily airborne.

The warmer the temperature, the greater the pollen. Warmer air encourages pollination. Colder air discourages pollen production.