NYC Allergy Forecast Predicts 1 Type Of Pollen Will 'dominate' Entire ...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Get those antihistamines ready.

As we turn the corner into spring, allergy sufferers in New York City and the rest of the Northeast region could be in for a brutal allergy season thanks to a certain pollen, according to a report from a team of AccuWeather forecasters.

Weed pollen specifically will “dominate” the entire East Coast starting at the height of summer, with higher-than-normal levels in the late summer and early fall months, noted the forecasters, who analyzed weather patterns and climate research to inform their report.

OTHER POLLENS

However, it’s not all bad news for allergy sufferers in our area.

The forecasters predict steady rainfall in April and early May will put a damper on tree pollen — typically the first and biggest cause of allergies each year — in our region, with levels expected to be average or below average from the Appalachian Mountains to Maine.

Grass pollen will be at near-average levels this summer in the Northeast due to warm weather and sporadic rainfall, the latter of which should cause intermittent grass growth.

It’s worth noting we might not be so lucky in the future.

Recent research suggests growing seasons are becoming longer, which in turn creates a longer pollen season and therefore, prolonged allergy symptoms, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit science and news organization based in Princeton, New Jersey.

COVID-19 VS SEASONAL ALLERGIES

The emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has added a layer of complexity to both allergy and flu seasons, as seasonal allergies, the flu and COVID-19 share several similar symptoms.

So how do you know if you’re dealing with seasonal allergies, or something more serious?

Dr. David Shulan, who previously worked for Certified Allergy and Asthma Consultants in Albany but is now retired, told AccuWeather one thing to factor in is how quickly fatigue sets in.

According to Shulan, people who suffer from allergies can become fatigued over time because allergies can be highly disruptive to sleep, whereas fatigue from the flu or COVID-19 tends to happen immediately.

There’s also one telltale sign that allergies are not the culprit behind your symptoms.

“If you’re running a fever, it’s not allergies,” Shulan said.

Tips for allergy sufferers

If you suffer from pollen allergies, here are some helpful tips from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to help ease your symptoms:

• Start taking allergy medicine before pollen season begins. Most allergy medicines work best when taken this way. This allows the medicine to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.
• Limit your outdoor activities when pollen counts are high. This will lessen the amount of pollen allergen you inhale and reduce your symptoms.
• Keep car windows and house windows closed during pollen season and use central air conditioning with clean filters.
• Bathe and shampoo your hair daily before going to bed. This will remove pollen from your hair and skin and keep it off your bedding.
• Wear sunglasses and a hat when outside. This will help keep pollen out of your eyes and off your hair.
• Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Change and wash the clothes you have worn during outdoor activities.
• Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor line.
• Wash your bed sheets, blankets and pillow covers in hot, soapy water once a week.