Warm weather raises Asthma Foundation warning of early hayfever season in South Australia with extreme pollen counts
HAYFEVER sufferers are being warned to prepare for a “vicious” early season, as warm and windy conditions on Thursday are forecast to whip up a high pollen count.
HAYFEVER sufferers are being warned to prepare for a “vicious” early season, as warm and windy weather whips up a high pollen count.
The Asthma Foundation of South Australia says Thursday’s forecast “130 high” pollen count would be the first August high since 2011.
Health services manager Lou Williamson said “extreme” counts could follow with the next burst of warmth.
“With ‘extreme’ readings being recorded in late September 2014 and early October 2015, now is the time to prepare and treat hayfever symptoms,” he said.
“Treating hayfever symptoms can reduce emergency department visits and hospitalisations due to asthma.”
The Adelaide Aerobiology Laboratory performs the daily pollen count for the Asthma Foundation of SA.
Laboratory allergist Dr Allen Gale says the pollen count should be considered alongside forecast air temperatures, wind speeds and whether grass has recently been cut.
“We could have quite a vicious hay fever season, because we’ve got so much grass and now we’ve got warm weather,” he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a sunny and windy day for Adelaide on Thursday with a top temperature of 24C, before a “very high chance” of rain late in the afternoon and a return to cooler winter weather from the evening.
Emilly Diggins, 20, of Magill, has enjoyed the “crazy warm” weather at Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens this week.
“You couldn’t even tell it was winter, it was so nice to be outside,” she said. “Especially after all the cold weather we’ve had.”