Allergy sufferers expected to have worse season than usual: See pollen maps
Allergy sufferers expected to have worse season than usual: See pollen maps
For trees and flowers, early spring might be wonderful, but for allergy sufferers, it can be awful.
Springtime has arrived two weeks earlier than usual in several Midwest states this year, according to the USA National Phenology Network at the University of Arizona. In the mid-Atlantic and northeast regions, it arrived just over a week ahead of schedule. For those in the western U.S., depending on where you live, spring can arrive anywhere from two weeks earlier to a week later in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, much of the country's southern and eastern regions are expected to experience temperatures far above average, which means an increase in pollen levels due to blossoming trees. That's bad news for people with seasonal allergies ‒ about 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children in the U.S.
States where spring sprang earlier than usual
The USA National Phenology Network's map below shows the springtime leaf activity earlier than average (in red tones) and later than average (blue tones) this year:
According to a recent study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, eight cities in California saw large increases in their allergy rankings as a result of a "grass and weed pollen explosion," which the foundation says was intensified by heavy rains that year that spurred plant growth. New Orleans also jumped considerably, going from 34th place the previous year to second in 2025.
Where are pollen counts at their highest?
As warm spring temperatures expand throughout the United States, pollen levels are rising. Pollen counts forecasted on March 20, the first official day of spring:
Why does pollen cause allergies?
Plants, trees and grass release pollen in the springtime to fertilize other plants of the same species. The powdery particles drift in the air and are easily inhaled.
In some people, inhaling pollen causes their immune systems to overreact. The immune system sees the pollen as a danger and releases antibodies that attack the allergens. This leads to the release of histamines into the blood. Histamines trigger runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms.
How pollen affects your body
How to help stop the allergy symptoms
Reducing your exposure to pollen allergens and identifying seasonal triggers might help ease your symptoms. You can do the following to decrease your reaction:
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