Michiana allergy season spikes with warm weather...and will only get worse
The long-overdue sunshine and warmer temperatures are enough to bring a few tears to your eyes.
However, for many people across Michiana, those tears might not just be from the beautiful weather. They might be due to the return of seasonal allergies.
Got Allergies? ?
— Tom Coomes (@TomCoomes) May 9, 2022
The South Bend region bucks a national trend over the last 50 years, of a longer growing / allergy season.
But there's more to this story.
1⃣ Spring allergens spike all at once, with a super-bloom.
2⃣ Allergy season now lasts longer in the fall. pic.twitter.com/dDEcw9pbyF
"We’ve been seeing pollen for over a month already, but in the last week, since things are getting nicer, we’ve been seeing not just tree pollen, but also grass pollen, general weed pollen and mold levels out there," South Bend Clinic Allergist Dr. Christina Barnes explained.
Dr. Barnes has seen a swath of patients over the past few weeks reporting classic allergy symptoms, like itchy eyes, runny nose, and even a dry cough or scratchy throat. She says that a weather pattern like this one Michiana is under is perfect for pollen to populate the air.
"Pollen really does well in terms of spreading on the days that are warm and there’s a little breeze, so these days that we have coming up ahead I’m sure we’ll see some high levels," Barnes said.
For those suffering through allergy season, Dr. Barnes recommends trying to not being outside early in the morning, when pollen levels are highest.
"Also, try to keep doors and windows closed and air conditioning on, if you have it in the home," Barnes added.
To view pollen counts in the South Bend area, click here.