Forecast

A hot week, grasses and fungal spores are a burden!

In Vorarlberg and Tyrol, the week starts with heat and thunderstorms. In the rest of Austria, we can expect a first half of the week with temperatures above 30 °C and hardly any precipitation. These are ideal conditions for the flight of pollen and fungal spores. Allergy sufferers need to be prepared for an intense week.

During thunderstorms, sudden changes in humidity and air pressure can cause pollen grains to burst open and the resulting particles to penetrate deeper into the lungs. This can trigger severe allergic reactions or asthma attacks - a phenomenon known as thunderstorm asthma. Even though rain usually brings short-term relief, allergy sufferers should stay indoors during thunderstorms and keep the windows closed to minimise the risk.

A large number of grasses are currently in bloom, including couch grass, grass grass, crested bluegrass, riding grass, panicle grass, ryegrass and timothy. Flowering grasses can also be found in forests and at altitudes above 1,500 metres. The first peak of the grass pollen season is now behind us. However, allergy sufferers must continue to expect considerable stress.

Dock and plantain are also in bloom and can cause additional discomfort near meadows. Stinging nettles are also in bloom; their pollen can irritate sensitised people.

For people who are sensitised to birch plants, the flowering greenalder and sweet chestnut trees are important. While the sweet chestnut is mainly found in the lowlands of eastern and southern Austria, the greenalder is found at higher altitudes throughout the Alps.

The widespread tree of heaven, a neophyte native to Asia, is now also blooming in the lowlands. Although it is insect-pollinated, we regularly find its pollen in our monitoring stations. Not much is yet known about its allergenic potential, but allergic skin reactions have already been documented.

Privet can be important for people who are sensitised to the pollen of olive trees. As this plant is pollinated by insects, relevant pollen concentrations are only to be expected in the immediate vicinity.

Moderately high concentrations of fungal spores are registered at our measuring points in lowlands and valleys. People who are sensitised to fungal sp ores should avoid the vicinity of grain fields that are being threshed. During threshing, large quantities of fungal spores are released into the ambient air.

Other types of pollen detected in the ambient air are umbellifers, goosefoot and buttercup plants, cloves, sour grasses and cypress plants. These are of minor allergological significance.