Pollen Count Hillsborough Nc (2024)

FAQs

What pollen is out now in NC? ›

Common allergy triggers in North Carolina include tree pollen (especially high right now!), grass pollen, and weeds like ragweed.

Grass pollen season in North Carolina lasts from mid spring until fall, and the peak is between April and May. The most common types of grass in NC are Bermuda grass, tall fescue, centipede, ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and zoysia grasses.

On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.

What month is worst for allergies? The worst month for allergies will vary based on where you live. Across the United States, May typically is the worst. In May, most of the country sees elevated pollen counts.

Typically March and April are the months with the highest tree pollens, and May is the peak month of grasses.

Warmer February means an early start to pollen season in NC

As temperatures rise earlier each year, so does the start of pollen season. The increased warmth is causing trees to produce more pollen, leading to longer and more intense allergy seasons.

Visit the National Allergy Bureau at AAAAI.org/nab for pollen count information. Visit airnow.gov for Environmental Protection Agency air quality alerts. Both websites also have apps available for smartphones and tablets.

Air purifiers may be able to help with allergy symptoms by removing small particles from the air, especially when combined with other strategies. For best results, make sure to look for a purifier with a true HEPA filter, a carbon filter, and an adequate clean air delivery rate (CADR).

Does rain make pollen worse? ›

Pollen: Rain prevents pollen from traveling and can be a relief for some people with this common allergy. However, it can also increase pollen exposure when pollen is broken into smaller particles. Pollen counts also sometimes increase significantly right after rainstorms.

Second-generation antihistamines: The preferred first-step agent is certirizine (Zyrtec); others include loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra). All are taken once per day and are generally cause little to no drowsiness. We recommend cetirizine for initial treatment.

Types of pollen by season

From March through to May, tree, grass and weed pollen are all in the air. Tree and grass pollens are common spring allergens as they have peaks at this time of year. Your spring hay fever symptoms may include painful sinuses and a cough.

In North Carolina, pine pollen is the one that coats cars and sidewalks, crunches between the teeth and signals it's time to give up on the fantasy of a late-winter snowfall and start trying to remember where we put away the summer clothes.

Once spring comes around, the trees will start releasing pollen. Generally, residents can expect this allergy season to begin in March and go until June. The peak of the season is April.

“There's higher amounts of pollen due to rising greenhouse gasses and more CO2 in the air, which plants thrive off of,” Parikh tells CNBC Make It.