This yr’s pollen season was worse than common for hay fever victims in line with knowledge from the Met Workplace.
As recollections of heat summer time days ease away, hay fever victims is likely to be forgiven for being happy for a extra autumnal feeling to the climate as concentrations of pollen within the air have now eased off.
Grass pollen
In accordance with knowledge which seems on the focus of pollen grains within the air throughout the UK, 2022’s pollen season was above common, with grass pollen – which the overwhelming majority of hay fever victims have an allergy to – proving to have extra days of excessive pollen counts than common.
The onset of the grass pollen season occurred at across the common date within the south and the Midlands, from 18 Might, whereas Scotland’s grass pollen season began round per week later than common on 9 June. A light winter and a subsequent heat Might helped develop manufacturing of pollen for a lot of the principle grasses within the UK, aside from East Anglia the place the circumstances had been much less appropriate.
By way of variety of days with excessive pollen counts (when the every day common of pollen grains is greater than 50 per cubic metre of air), Scotland had its worst season in 11 years, Worcester its worst in 15 years and Leicester its worst yr since data started on the website.
Met Workplace Relationship Supervisor for Well being and Air High quality Yolanda Clewlow stated: “Though there have been no distinctive values by way of pollen within the air on given days, what’s noteworthy is the persistently excessive pollen counts we’ve seen this season.
“A light winter, coupled with near-average rain within the rising month of Might, resulted in a great deal of pollen technology for the summer time months. The next dry circumstances helped this pollen to stay within the air for extra days than common this yr.”
With an earlier begin, the season didn’t final so long as it had in earlier years, with July’s record-breaking warmth flushing out the pollen rapidly, whereas many areas within the south had grasses that died again within the warmth.
Yolanda continued: “The heatwave in mid-July actually noticed the again of the excessive ranges of grass pollen within the air, with the continued dryness additionally stopping a lot additional pollen growth.”
Tree pollen
Tree pollen, which may additionally have an effect on some individuals with hay fever, had a various season throughout the UK. Birch tree pollen began early in most areas attributable to a light February and March. The season noticed near-average pollen ranges within the east, whereas much less prevalent within the north and west. Dry climate in April allowed for good dispersal of pollen than was produced.
The oak pollen season began round common within the southeast and West Midlands, round 22 April, however was barely earlier within the East Midlands. The severity of the oak pollen various considerably throughout the UK this yr, with locations in Scotland seeing virtually no oak pollen, whereas the Midlands, Worcester and Leicester recorded greater than common oak pollen totals.
Yolanda concluded: “Tree pollen had a extra various season to grass pollen due to the marginally shifted climate patterns within the rising season for bushes. Though most individuals with hay fever don’t really feel any impacts from tree pollen, those that do may need felt worse within the Midlands and surrounding areas, versus the north of Scotland the place little or no oak pollen was recorded in any respect.”
In the course of the pollen season, the Met Workplace app affords notifications on pollen within the air.
