Victoria’s hay fever season tipped to peak later than usual

Dreading hay fever season? Victoria’s pollen forecast has landed and it’s not good news — though peak season isn’t when you would expect.

Victoria is on track for a “challenging” pollen season with “frequent high and extreme days”, prompting an urgent asthma and allergy warning.

Grass pollen cannot only trigger seasonal allergies but in particular weather conditions asthma attacks, with experts urging for us to prepare for “high” pollen levels and asthma episodes later this season.

The dry winter, followed by predicted rainfall between now and December, has created ideal conditions for rapid grass growth, the National Asthma Council of Australia warned on Friday.

“If predicted rainfall arrives between October and December, a rapid increase in grass growth could lead to frequent high and extreme pollen days later in the season,” they said in a statement.

Grass pollen season normally runs from October to December.

The council warned Victorians to not become complacent early on, as the dry winter and below-average soil moisture — particularly in Western Victoria — means the season will start later.

Hayfever season is starting later in Victoria this year.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted above-median rainfall from October to December throughout most of Victoria.

Air Health chief operating and scientific officer Dr Edwin Lampugnani said this could “trigger a surge in grass growth” and they were expecting a “bigger than average grass pollen season”.

He said it would likely be similar to 2023, when Melbourne had 30 high or extreme grass pollen days last year.

AirHealth works with Melbourne University to monitor the state’s pollen levels, which helps determine the thunderstorm asthma forecast set up by authorities in the wake of the 2016 disaster that claimed ten lives.

Melbourne University Health Sciences School’s Professor Bruce Thompson said increased pollen was “a known trigger for asthma”.

“With the potential for increased pollen due to late-season rains, we could see more frequent and severe asthma episodes,” he said.

National Asthma Council Australia director and respiratory physician Professor Peter Wark urged asthmatics to see their General Practitioner and ensure they had a preventer — and not just an inhaler.

“A blue reliever inhaler (puffer) does not stop the inflammation that causes asthma and will not prevent an asthma attack,” he said.

“Even people with hay fever, who have never had asthma, should see their GP if they experience worsening asthma symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest.”