Hay fever alert: Experts advise to stay indoors as pollen hits 'extreme levels'
Brace yourselves, hay fever sufferers! Pollen in the air is set to reach extreme levels over the weekend.
The areas which are considered to be hit with the highest amount of pollen are Sydney, Perth, Bendigo and Adelaide, as experts advise people to avoid those locations.
Peak period for hay fever is said to begin in November, but those who suffer from the allergy can start to feel irritated as early as September.
According to Weatherzone, pollen levels are at its highest during hot days and days where there is dry wind present.
Sydney-siders are going to be affected the most as winds are set to reach 17km/h on Friday and Sunday, with pollen levels set at “very high".
Weatherzone has advised those who are sensitive to pollen to remain indoors, saying “most sufferers of pollen allergies will experience symptoms on very high pollen level days".
Temperatures in Perth are set to soar, as the city will experience 30 degrees on Friday combined with winds of 20km/h. The pollen forecast is predicted to be high.
Adelaide will have a warm Sunday as the weather is forecasted to be 33 degrees with four days of high-level pollen.
Those in Melbourne are also expected to face high pollen levels by Monday but the weekend is set to be quite clear.
But those in Bendigo, Victoria, are advised to stay indoors as pollen levels are set to reach extreme.
Dr Connie Katelaris, head of the immunology and allergy unit at Campbelltown Hospital, spoke to the Daily Mail and advised those who suffer from the allergy to remain cautious.
“If you know you have regular problems, you should be starting up one of the preventative sprays, the nasal sprays, so that you can block the reaction before it gets going.”
Close to 15 per cent of Australian’s suffer from hay fever, and speaking to the Daily Mail, professor Simon Haberle, from the Australian National University who specialises in pollen, said the worst is yet to come.
“Most of the pollen comes from trees in August and September, and now we’re moving into the grass pollen season, which starts around late October and November,” he said.
“If you’re suffering from hay fever and asthma at the moment and feeling the effects of it, it’s probably relating to tree pollen because it’s quite prominent.”
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