Sneezing? Itchy eyes? Here’s the latest pollen count forecast for Sacramento area
Leaves are budding and flowers are blossoming in Northern California, worsening pesky allergy symptoms.
The latest forecast for the Sacramento area calls for high pollen levels, according to the Weather Channel.
Tuesday’s pollen count is expected to be high, the forecast said.
On Wednesday, the pollen count will peak at very high before returning to high on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, the Weather Service said, pollen will be at a moderate level.
Where is the pollen coming from?
Each year, “plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species,” according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Trees, grasses and weeds produce the most pollen, according to the foundation.
In Sacramento, the top allergens are oak, elder and juniper trees, according to Pollen.com.
According to the Weather Channel, different types of pollen may be prominent this week depending on the day.
Tree and grass pollen levels will be very high on Tuesday, along with moderate levels of ragweed pollen.
Grass pollen levels are forecast to be high on Wednesday and Thursday.
When do plants pollinate?
In the United States, there are three key pollination periods that determine when you experience seasonal allergy symptoms, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Tree pollination starts in February and goes through May, the foundation said.
Grass pollinates from April through June, and weeds pollinate July through November.
That means there are just two months — January and December — when pollen isn’t flying through the air.
How to prevent allergy symptoms
To prevent allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, you should minimize exposure to things that you know you’re sensitive to, according to Dr. NaYoung Kim, the chief of allergy and immunology for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville.
If you have allergies and the weather is warming up, stay inside and keep your doors closed.
If you’s been outside, you should wash your hair to get rid of any allergens.
Additionally, if you have pets, Kim advised that you wash them frequently.
You can also start your medications early.
“A lot of people wait until they’re absolutely miserable before they start medications,” Kim told The Sacramento Bee in August 2023.. “Starting your allergy regime early can help prevent the effect called ‘priming.’ ”
This is when symptoms start to snowball, she explained, forcing you to take more medication to control symptoms.
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