WRAL Meteorologists Break Down The Timeline For Pollen In The Triangle ::

Spring is only 25 days away, but the yellow “cloud” of pollen will descend over the Triangle before the vernal equinox on March 20. With more highs in the 70s (even 80s in a few spots!) this week, you may notice more budding trees.

While the spring leaf index is running a bit behind due to a cold January, the trees have started to bud more over the past week.

If you suffer from allergies, you know this means that the sneezing and itchy eyes are just around the corner.

In central North Carolina, tree pollen typically begins in early March but begins a sharp increase in mid-March. The peak of the tree pollen usually occurs the first week of April and begins to decline gradually throughout April.

While the worst of the tree pollen typically ends by May, this is the same time that grass pollen begins to increase.

Pine pollen is the tree pollen associated with the yellow dust and mess across N.C. Pine pollen is what coats your cars and patio furniture and settles on top of puddles and lakes.

Pine pollen typically peaks for about three weeks in the Triangle. It is during this time frame when many of us will be begging for a good round of rain to wash it away.

The long-range spring forecast shows equal chances of above or below normal rainfall but leans slightly below normal in the southeastern part of NC.

With pollen season looming right around the corner, allergy sufferers should make the most of these late-winter warm days while you can!

While pollen levels may begin to increase over the next week, they’ll get much worse about a month from now.