PA Allergy Sufferers: Here's What To Expect In 2023

PENNSYLVANIA — Allergy sufferers across the state, prepare for plenty of sneezing and watery, itchy eyes this year. State College-based AccuWeather released its 2023 allergy forecast Wednesday and the news isn't good for Pennsylvania.

Pollen already is being produced by plants here following an exceptionally warm February, and AccuWeather is predicting it will only be a few more weeks before allergans kick into full gear.

According to AccuWeather meteorolgist Alan Reppert, trees are commonly the earliest pollen producers in the spring. Grass pollen will begin to dominate by late spring and early summer. In late summer and early fall, weed pollen will take over for the rest of the season.

So what can Pennsylvania expect?

Tree pollen already has started to peak across much of the Southeast and Gulf Coast and will peak in mid-April here, AccuWeather says. Except for a tiny sliver Southwestern Pennsylvania, the state should see average tree pollen counts this year.

Grass pollen will peek in early- to-mid July. While the eastern part of the state should see average pollen counts, Western and Central Pennsylvania likely will experience high levels.

No part of the state will escape weed pollen this year, AccuWeather warns. Counts will be high across Pennsylvania.

“It's really going to increase here as we get into September, and any tropical moisture that may come into the area or any storms that come in over the plains and from the north, that could really help to increase any of the weed pollen that we’re seeing,” Reppert said.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on Wednesday released its annual Allergy Capitals report for 2023, which identifies the most challenging cities for pollen allergies in the 100 most populated areas in the country. Cities are ranked based on tree, grass, and weed pollen scores, over-the-counter allergy medicine use, and availability of board-certified allergists and immunologists.

One Pennsylvania city, Scranton, ranked third in the foundation's Allergy Capitals rankings. According to the foundation, Scranton has average scores for all pollen but worse than average allergy medicine use and number of allergy specialists.

"We are experiencing longer and more intense allergy seasons because of climate change. For people with asthma, allergies can trigger an asthma attack,” foundation CEO Kenneth Mendez said in a statement. If we don’t take immediate action on the climate crisis, pollen production will only intensify. This means more allergy and asthma attacks and additional strain on our health systems."