Allergy Forecast: Here's The Pollen Making Mooresville Miserable

MOORESVILLE, NC — The misery that is springtime in North Carolina is in full force this week, as blossoming plants mean puffy eyes, scratchy throats and non-stop sneezes. And, according to forecasters, this weekend in Mooresville is about to see elevated rates of pollen.

Most allergen forecasts break down the causes into three categories: tree pollen, grass pollen and ragweed pollen. According to the allergy forecast from weather.com, tree pollen rates are ranked "high" Thursday, as well as Saturday, April 27 through Tuesday, April 30.

Grass pollen rates are “ high” and “very high” in five out of the next six days. Thankfully, ragweed pollen is not considered an issue.

For now, the culprit is mainly grass pollen, which will be running rampant into early next week.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the most common symptoms of allergies are sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat and eyes, and wheezing. It's a list that people with allergies know all too well.

With grass pollen acting at the highest rate in these next few days, it might help to avoid grasses that are known to spur the most acute allergic reactions to pollen, which include Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky, Orchard, Redtop, Rye, Sweet vernal and Timothy, according to Webmd. Allergy sufferers should also avoid trees that are known to spur the most acute allergic reactions to pollen, which include Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Box Elder, Cedar, Cottonwood, Elm, Hickory, Mountain elder, Mulberry, Oak, Pecan and Willow, Webmd said.

Here's how AccuWeather suggests you can relieve symptoms:

• Stay inside in the morning

• Keep indoor air clean. Keep windows closed, filter the air by using air conditioning.

• Avoid certain foods. Some people with severe pollen allergies may have trouble eating raw and fresh fruit.

• Carry an allergy relief kit, including over-the-counter products such as antihistamines and eye drops.

Patch Editor Gus Saltonstall contributed