‘Prolonged And Intense’ Allergy Season Forecast For VA

VIGINIA — Allergy season could land a 1-2-3 punch on people in Virginia who suffer from hay fever and asthma, according to a new 2024 allergy forecast from AccuWeather.

The allergy season will be a nasty one for large parts of the country, the private weather company said in a story on its website, noting that people in the eastern U.S. already sneezing.

“This year will start off much earlier than most years in the East,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert said. “We could look at things to be a full month ahead of normal with tree pollen and still ahead with when grass pollen starts.”

Three types of pollen — tree, grass and weed — can make life miserable for people with allergies, although not all types of pollen affect everyone. Knowing when to expect high pollen counts is a key to managing symptoms, along with taking medication before symptoms start and restricting time outdoors in the late mornings and afternoons when pollen counts are highest, AccuWeather said.

Here’s what we can expect in Virginia:

• Tree pollen: Expect tree pollen to start out high in Virginia; the above average season peak will come between early April and early May
• Grass pollen: As Virginia enters prime grass-cutting season, allergy sufferers will face an average season, with the peak coming between June and July before tapering off in August and September
• Weed pollen: Virginia will experience high levels of weed pollen in an above-average season with the peak reached between July and August

Cities from New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., to Kansas City and Denver where tree pollen could not only arrive early, but also in levels higher than in past seasons, AccuWeather said.

Although the tree pollen season won’t be as intense in the Southwest, it could last longer. The northern Plains and Pacific Northwest also shouldn’t see the powerful pollen bombs as other parts of the country, but other pollens later in the season could kick up people’s allergies, according to the forecast.

Reppert expects the grass pollen season to be “intense and prolonged” in many parts of the country, including the Northeast and Midwest, with levels peaking around the 4th of July when millions of Americans are outside enjoying parades and festivals, cookouts and fireworks.

Elevated levels of grass pollen could persist as far west as Oregon and Washington throughout the summer, he said. Levels could subside in July and August along the East Coast. Most of the Plains, Rocky Mountains and Southwest should see pollen levels near or below historical averages.

More than two dozen states that experienced high tree pollen levels earlier in the season could also see a “hyperactive” weed pollen season, according to the forecast. Weed pollen concerns extend from the northern Plains, northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.