The daffodils are already blooming. Other small plants and bushes are also flowering. Horticulturist Anthony Aiello has already noticed. "I would say we are two to three weeks earlier than we normally are so its really a much earlier spring than we've ever seen."
It may make for pretty pictures but it can be particularly ugly for allergy sufferers. Trees like alders, which is related to the willow tree, are putting pollen in the air big time. "These are wind pollinated and on a bright sunny day when wind is blowing you can see clouds of this yellow pollen flying around through the air," Aiello said.
Wynnewood, PA allergist Dr. George Martin says the unusually warm winter is definitely making for an early and troublesome allergy season with lots of sniffing, sneezing and itchy eyes. "They are starting to have sinus problems and headaches and middle ear problems and post nasal drip and I'm even seeing some folks who are having asthma problems."
Those with allergies usually don't start seeing symptoms until late March or early April. And Dr. Martin says he thinks this allergy season is going to be a very long one. "We haven't had that cold weather that kills off the mold so that's causing people to have allergy symptoms and in addition to that I think the tree season and the grass season is going be very prolonged so I think we are going to be suffering from now until probably the first or second week in July."
Most seasonal allergies are triggered by pollen, but different tree, grass or weed pollens might affect you differently. Check to see which pollen levels are high when your symptoms are flaring. Or for more precise testing... Visit an allergist.
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