Allergy Season To Start Strong In NJ, Expert Says

MORRIS, NJ — While multiple March nor'easters delayed warmer temperatures in New Jersey, they also delayed one of the worst parts of spring: allergy season. Unfortunately for those who suffer from hay fever, when pollen production kicks into full gear it's going to be rough.

The whopping four nor'easters New Jersey saw this March kept everything damp, washing away pollen, but once the snow clears the moisture will allow trees and plants to spew lots and lots of pollen, Dr. Leonard Bielory from the Asthma and Allergy Research Center told NJ101.5.

"We will see a quick and rapid rise [in pollen production] that will be quite vigorous in the first and second week in April. The moisture that is being deposited, both snow and rain, will actually further nurture the trees and future grass and weed pollinating seasons, so that there will be a higher pollen count for those downstream," he said.

Pollen production tends to ramp up in the Northeast between April and May, right when flowers bloom and trees grow their leafs back, WeatherBug meteorologist Andrew Rosenthal said. Once those plants are done pollenating, grass allergies kick in, so when an allergy sufferer will feel it worst depends on what specifically they're allergic to.

After the initial burst of pollen in mid-April, Bielory expects pollen amounts to level out back to a typical season, saying New Jersey is in for a normal allergy season.

Suffer from allergies and need some relief? Here are some tips, shared with Patch by Dr. Clifford Bassett of the Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, Dr. Mariana Castells at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and SafeBee:

• Wear sunglasses outdoors. Glasses help protect your eyes from direct contact with pollen and other airborne allergens that cause itchy and watery eyes. Large or wrap-around glasses in particular may be most helpful.
• Stop using a clothesline. When you dry your clothes and linens outdoors in the spring, they are likely to get covered with pollen. Once you bring them inside, the pollen comes along for the ride, and this may trigger your allergic symptoms.
• Clean the pollen off your jackets, shoes, dogs, and hair. Pollen can cover anything, and if you're bringing it in your home you may never be able to avoid your symptoms. Figure out the ways pollen gets in your home, and take simple steps to keep it out.
• Make sure your windows are closed between 4 A.M. and 10 A.M. These are peak hours for pollen, and the last thing you want is pollen wafting into your house through an open window.
• Keep track of the pollen count in your area and plan accordingly. If the pollen count is particularly high, it may be a good day to exercise indoors.
• Wear a pollen mask, especially during yard work. Pollen masks may help to reduce your irritation during activities in which exposure to pollen is unavoidable.
• Select flowers wisely. Whether you're gardening or buying flowers for indoors, make sure to avoid any flowers that might trigger your allergies. Dr Bassett specifically recommends avoiding star jasmine, narcissus, gardenias, impatiens, lily of the valley, dahlia, lavender, lilac, jasmine and aster.

Read more on how to prevent and treat allergies here.

With Reporting By Cody Fenwick, Patch National Staff

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