Allergy season on the rise in Mid-Missouri

If you’re heading out on the town this weekend, you may notice an unpleasant feeling if you are outside for too long. The warmer days we’ve been having are leading to some trees budding and releasing pollen into the air.

The spring months can be quite unpleasant for many allergy sufferers, especially on days when the pollen count is high. But why do we see higher pollen counts on days when the sun is shining, it’s dry and the weather is pleasant? The answer lies in how pollen travels and weather has a huge impact on determining how much pollen is in the air.

For those who suffer during the spring seasons, they come to find solace in those rainy does, as it reduces the amount of pollen in the air. However, higher pollen counts tend to favor days where it’s sunny, breezy and mild. It’s exactly the type of weather that is in store for Mid-Missouri this weekend.

So what can you do if you find yourself allergic to the top allergens this weekend, those being Maple, Juniper and Alder?

For starters, you can save any outdoor activities for the afternoon hours or after hours or after a heavy rain, as the pollen counts tend to be higher in the morning.

– Prepare and get ahead of the problem.

– Stay tuned to the weather and changes in store.

– Control your environment inside, by closing the windows and keeping your air conditioner circulating on the warmer days.

Springtime is tricky, as temperatures vary widely from day to day. This can make a person’s sensitivity to allergens more severe. While winter ended on a mild note, it’s likely that in the coming weeks we’ll begin to see the highest pollen counts of the season arrive.

This weekend, pollen counts are expected to peak by Sunday before widespread showers and cooler weather bring a return to lower pollen counts.

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack weather as we continue to monitor our next chance of rain and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.