CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — It’s that time of the year again when you start sniffling and sneezing as you do your everyday activities.
Pollen tends to start rising around the start of March. However, the bad news is that it only worsens before the pollen count improves. The pollen season peaks during April in Charlotte, although the highest-ever pollen counts have come in late March.
Tree pollen begins the season and then grass pollen follows as we get closer to the summer months. The top tree allergens in the Charlotte area are oak, hickory, birch and yellow poplar. However, river birch, American beech and maple can also cause allergies locally.
Tree pollen is going to be on the rise this week, given the warmer temperatures. We start to experience high tree pollen on Thursday and Friday.
Climate change can lead to longer allergy seasons because of fewer overnight freezes, which leads to more growing-season days. You would think Charlotte is averaging more of these days, however, climate patterns like cold-air damming can tend to lead to earlier freezes in the Queen City.
However, surrounding spots are seeing nearly a month more of the growing season, which keeps those allergies around a little while longer.
