Pollen count remains high after recent rains

Spring is in the air, and so is pollen. You may even notice your nose running a bit more than usual this season, thanks to warm temperatures and early spring rain.

Plants sprouted quickly this year despite a hot, dry start. It was the hottest March on record in the United States, but the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River valleys were wetter than normal, allowing plants to emerge weeks earlier than usual.

In Columbia, March temperatures were 7 degrees above average, and the area received 4.23 inches of rain, compared with an average of 2.97 inches. So far in April, Columbia has received just over 5 inches of rain. These warm, wet conditions prompted plants to start growing sooner, and rain supported their growth into spring.

The National Phenology Network reports that plants emerged a week to two weeks earlier than normal in Missouri. Emergence began more than three weeks ahead of schedule in far western Missouri, Kansas, and the Plains.

Plants are now producing moderate to high levels of pollen across 25% of the nation, according to Pollen.com. The closest pollen readings to Mid-Missouri, from Children's Mercy in Kansas City and the Pollen and Mold Center in St. Louis, report high levels of tree pollen and moderate levels of grass pollen locally.

Mold levels are generally low, a good sign after recent steady rains. Wetter conditions are prime for mold growth, so continue to monitor the forecast, with more rain on the way this weekend. While this rain may provide brief relief from airborne pollen, allergy season is getting longer and more intense as the world warms.