Seasonal allergies are coming. Four tips to help prepare you
Spring time represents a fresh start with warmer weather, blossoming flowers and longer days. But for those dealing with seasonal allergies, spring can bring itchy eyes and throats, runny noses and lots of sneezing.
This spring will be particularly difficult for 106 million Americans who suffer from allergies and/or asthma, with pollen-induced seasonal allergies being a major contributing factor, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
According to a 2021 study, the extended length of North American pollen seasons – by an average of 20 days – between 1990 and 2018 is primarily caused by climate change. For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, roughly 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children in the United States, that is bad news.
Where pollen counts are starting to ramp up
You may not be wrong if you think that your that pollen allergies are becoming more severe. Allergy symptoms are more intense and persist longer due to longer, more intense pollen seasons brought on by climate change, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Tree, grass and weed pollen counts are already starting to rise in the Western and Southern United States.
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Where seasonal allergens are expected to increase
Warmer temperatures will cause an early, strong season with high tree pollen levels moving north from the South and Ohio Valley, according to AccuWeather’s 2026 U.S. allergy forecast. Pollen levels are high in more than 29 states and early spring storms cause rapid and dramatic increases.
How pollen affects your body
In order to nourish other plants of the same species, plants release pollen in the spring. It is easy to breathe in the powdery particles as they float in the air.
Some people’s immune systems overreact when they inhale pollen. The immune system creates antibodies that target the allergens because it sees the pollen as a threat. Histamines are released into the blood as a result of this. Runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms are brought on by histamines.
How seasonal allergies, cold and COVID-19 symptoms compare:
US cities that are ‘Allergy Capitals’
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks communities based on pollen, the number of over-the-counter and prescription medications per patient and the number of board-certified allergists per patient in the 50 most populous cities in the continental USA. How the cities ranked:
More western cities made it into the Allergy Capitals list for 2026 than in prior years. Pollen spikes, particularly those from grass and weeds, are the cause of these shifts.
How to help ease allergy symptoms
- Check pollen counts. Before heading outside, check the local news or visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau for up-to-date readings.
- Treat symptoms early. Most medications work best if taken before pollen hits the air. Ask your doctor when you should start treatment; some allergists recommend treatment about two weeks before symptoms typically surface.
- Use high-efficiency filters. They can help keep indoor air cleaner by trapping pollen and other allergens if you use forced air conditioning or heating systems.
- Shut the windows. This is good advice for people at home and in the car to help keep pollen out. Cool with the air conditioner instead.
SOURCE Climate Central, AccuWeather, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, USA National Phenology Network and USA TODAY research
This story was updated to add new information.
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