​Bad News For New York Seasonal Allergy Sufferers: Accuweather

NEW YORK — You may find yourself saying “bless you!” more often as you walk around town, according to AccuWeather’s 2022 spring allergy forecast, giving New Yorkers a heads-up on what to expect as trees start budding and grass starts growing.

While spring, which officially begins Sunday, is a welcome time of rebirth, especially after a harsh winter, for a lot of New Yorkers who have seasonal allergies, the budding trees, blooming flowers and fresh green grass promise nothing but misery, sneezing and suffering.

A quick check of a pollen-tracking website found that much of the New York metropolitan area is already seeing medium-level — 7.2 out of 10 — pollen reports, with juniper, elm and maple the primary allergy suspects.

However, Accuweather.com said, for tree pollen season in New York, there may be a little bit of good news. Meteorologists said steady rainfall during April and May could mean tree pollen levels won’t have time to peak.

New York and the rest of the Northeast are also looking at a near-average grass pollen season due to early summer warm weather and sporadic rainfall resulting in intermittent grass growth, Accuweather.com said.

And now for the bad news — weeds! Accuweather.com said, because increased moisture and temperatures will have created a more favorable environment for weeks, Northeast weed pollen levels will likely be higher-than-normal in the late summer and early fall months.

Check Your Daily Allergy Forecast

Numerous sites across the internet offer weekly or even daily allergy forecasts. An allergy tracker from pollen.com gives you a glimpse of the current allergy forecast according to city and metropolitan area.

Other popular allergy trackers include The Weather Channel and the National Allergy Bureau.

The A-to-Z Of Allergies

Confused by seasonal allergy lingo? Here are a few keywords to watch for when you find yourself with a case of spring sniffles:

• Allergen: A substance that triggers an allergic reaction in a person who’s sensitive to it.
• Antihistamine: A medication that prevents symptoms such as congestion, sneezing and itchy, runny nose.
• Decongestant: Medication that shrinks swollen nasal tissues to relieve symptoms such as swelling, congestion and mucus.
• Hay fever: An allergic reaction to pollen from ragweed, grasses and other plants whose pollen spreads on the wind.
• Neti pot: A device that looks like a small teapot, a neti pot is used for nasal irrigation. In other words, it’s used to flush out mucus and other debris from your nose and sinuses to improve breathing.
• Pollen and mold count: A measure of allergen amounts in the air. The counts are usually reported for mold spores and three types of pollen: grasses, trees and weeds.

Preventing Allergic Reactions

Here are some suggestions to nip allergies in the literal bud, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
• Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
• Remove clothes you've worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
• Don't hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
• Wear a pollen mask if you do outside chores.

If Pollen Counts Are High

Here are a few other things you can do to head off an allergic reaction:

• Check the allergy forecast for your town.
• If high pollen counts are forecast, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.
• Close doors and windows at night or any other time when pollen counts are high.
• Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.