How to prevent hay fever as the Met Office reveals why it’s so bad this year UK News

The reason for these high levels could be the hot but humid May we experienced this year, which contributed to particularly aggressive pollen grains.

The Met Office said rising temperatures plus breezes across the UK had caused a “pollen bomb”.

Yolanda Clewlow, Met Office Health and Air Quality Relations Manager, spoke to the Weather Snap podcast to explain the reason for such high pollen counts.

She said: “The grass pollen season generally follows a fairly consistent pattern and there are usually two peaks, one in the first half of June and then another in early July. This is because we have about 150 different species of grass and they all bloom at different times in spring and summer, although only some of them are allergenic.

“In terms of the number of pollen grains in the air, what we’re seeing isn’t particularly remarkable compared to what we’ve had in previous years. However, the potency of these pollen grains may be more intense this year, and it depends on the weather we had in the spring.

Clewlow added: “A warm and humid May, combined with a relatively warm spring, means there is a chance that the pollen that has developed is particularly potent, although the amounts are not drastically different. ”

Met Office tips to avoid hay fever

Speaking of ways to relieve symptoms, Yolanda added, “The best defense against symptoms is to avoid the stimulus.

“Avoiding the pollen you’re allergic to can really help and pollen levels in the air can fluctuate dramatically throughout the day.

“What is typical is that a light breeze will lift the pollen from the plants early in the morning, the warm air will then carry it around and it will be optimal to enter our lungs mid to late morning.

“Interestingly, in the middle of the day pollen is often carried very high in the atmosphere, which can cause the pollen count to be much lower near the ground. And then you can again get that extra burst of pollen in the evening as the air cools and allows the pollen to settle.