Allergy season is here. What to expect in NJ as trees release pollen
New Jersey allergy sufferers have been given a reprieve in the last few weeks as unseasonably cold temperatures have delayed the emergence of tree pollen.
Enjoy it while it lasts, experts say, because this spring will likely bring more sneezes, redder eyes and just downright higher-than-normal misery.
“Wait until next week when we start having 50-degree days regularly and you’ll see a pollen storm," said Dr. Leonard Bielory, an allergist and longtime researcher of pollen counts in New Jersey and across the United States.
Fueling the expected surge is water — lots and lots of water. Winter weather often determines how bad the spring allergy season will be and the deluge of precipitation since Jan. 1 has helped prime trees, grass and plants with a pollen overload.
For the past three months, much of New Jersey has received precipitation 50% to 75% greater than the average for this period of time.
Passaic County has clocked in with the most rainfall over that time with 17.1 inches — more than 7 inches above normal, according to data from the National Weather Service. Almost every other county — including Bergen, Essex, Morris, Sussex, Monmouth and others — has had double to triple the amount of rain in a winter that, similar to last year, saw little snow.
Tree pollen peaks in early May
Accuweather is forecasting higher-than-normal amounts of pollen through much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with tree pollen peaking in early May. The peak of grass pollen in late spring to early summer may be average to below average, but weed pollen will be heavy when it peaks in late summer, according to the weather service.
Data shows that the average pollen season has slowly grown in New Jersey over the past 25 years by two or three days at both the start of the season in mid-March and its end in mid-May. Bielory attributes it to climate change, the gradual warming of the planet as greater amounts of greenhouse gasses trap heat from escaping Earth’s atmosphere.
But each year presents different weather scenarios such as this year's March cold snap in New Jersey where many daily temperatures began in the 30s and struggled to get to the high 40s.
Once that passes, dormant trees will spring to life thanks to the extra nutrients they have received from the increased rainfall, Bielory said.
Maples, elms and cedars will be among the first to take center stage. Cars coated in fine yellow powder will soon become a regular morning sight.
"We're looking at a pretty robust season once it gets a bit warmer," said Bielory, a professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. "We've just had a tremendous amount of rain and any time we see that we have to gear up for a tough season."
Tips to battle pollen allergies
Bielory recommends that allergy sufferers begin to take their medication ahead of the pollen release to build up a tolerance.
Other tips:
Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car during allergy season.
Avoid outdoor activities during peak pollen hours. Tree and grass pollen counts are highest in the evening while ragweed levels are highest in the morning.
Take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after you’ve been outdoors.
Wear an N95 face mask when mowing the lawn, gardening or other outdoor chores.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Allergy season 2024: Here's how bad pollen will be in NJ
