Hay fever sufferers should take measures to help protect themselves this week because pollen levels, particularly ash pollen, are set to rise, especially in the Southeast of England
This striking weather map shows Brits in several regions of the UK are to experience hay fever hell this week.
Pollen levels are rising and, by Wednesday, the Met Office says they will be high across multiple areas. Ash pollen is the biggest concern, especially across southern counties. Birch pollen season starts soon, which will exasperate the threat for hay fever sufferers in the UK.
The Met Office has warned pollen levels will be high on Wednesday in the East Midlands, East of England, Southeast of England, Southwest of England and the West Midlands. The threat has been described as medium for Wales on the same day.
These rankings are somewhat of contrast to the last few days when the threat has been low for most regions, including the East of England and East Midlands today. This has been helped by the lack of humidity, which sent temperatures plunging to just 2.5C near Dover, Kent, on Friday.
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But the mercury is set to rise — to 22C in some places in the next couple of weeks — and, with it, will come the concern for those with hay fever. An estimated 13 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever and this year, like last, many complained the season has appeared to have started sooner.
With levels expected to be high on Wednesday, the Met Office has urged those with hay fever to take measures to help minimise exposure and ease the severity of symptoms, such as wearing wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes, and showering and changing clothes after going outside.
Birch pollen occurs between March and June, peaking between April and May, and can cause asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis (irritated eyes, nose and sinuses). Symptoms usually appear when the pollen count, a measure of the number of grains of pollen in one cubic metre of air, exceeds 50.
The weather conditions affect how much pollen is released and spread around, according to the Met Office, who said it was more prevalent on humid and windy days.
The long-range Met Office forecast reads: “A broad northwest to southeast split is expected across the UK during this period. The northwest is likely to be more unsettled with low pressure systems moving in at times, bringing showers or longer spells of rain. Strong winds are also possible, particularly along coasts.
“In the southeast, high pressure will have greater influence, with more settled, drier weather as a result. Temperatures overall are likely to be near to or slightly above normal.”
