What To Expect From Wisconsin's Fall Allergy Season

WISCONSIN — The fall allergy season is underway in Wisconsin, and it's likely here to stay until a hard frost knocks out the pollen causing watery eyes, scratchy throats and runny noses for allergy sufferers across the Badger State.

While allergies are typically a malady striking year-round, they can be different in the fall than other seasons. Ragweed can be a big culprit, but mold and dust mites can also trigger fall allergies.

“What we see in the fall are allergies to ragweed,” WebMD chief medical officer Dr. John Whyte told AccuWeather. “It blooms between August and November, so we kind of see that peak pollen [occur in] mid- to late September.”

To a lesser extent, mold and dust mites are fall allergy triggers, according to WebMd. Mold spores multiply in wet spots outside, such as piles of damp leaves. The first use of the furnace in the fall sends dust mites idle for months swirling into the air.

Generally, allergy sufferers will breathe easier after the first freeze, when temperatures drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of hours. That won’t happen as early as it does across the eastern third of the country, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert.

“We will see the pollen levels really remain high through much of October and even into parts of early November, just due to the lack of temperatures dropping below freezing,” he said, noting that plants and weeds will continue to thrive until then.

In Much of Wisconsin, pollen levels are expected to be average heading into the 2022 fall season, according to AccuWeather. Far northern parts of the state closest to Lake Superior and upper Michigan can expect lower pollen levels than usual.

According to AccuWeather’s current projections, Wisconsin's pollen season will end by late September for much of the state, with more southern parts of the state expecting a pollen season lasting into late October.

In general, AccuWeather predicted an average pollen season in the midwest, ending by late November in the further southern parts.

Related: 2022 Fall Foliage Peak Map: Use Interactive Tool To Plan Leaf Tours

The symptoms of allergies can mimic those of serious illnesses, including COVID-19, the flu or the common cold. Symptoms of all three include a runny nose, headache and or sore throat, “but itchiness typically means allergies,” Whyte told AccuWeather.

“Itchiness really is a big differentiator,” he said. “The other one is fever. You don't typically get a fever when you're suffering from allergies.”

Until the season ends, keep the windows closed, avoid extended periods of time outdoors, especially when it’s breezy, and use air filters in addition to maintaining a regular medication routine approved by an allergist, Whyte advised.