Forecast

Early summer weather will lead to high levels of grass pollen this weekend!

Following a mixed start to the week with rainfall, particularly in the west of the country – which, at least there, has kept pollen counts low – the sun will prevail across the whole of Austria as the week progresses and over the long weekend. This means the conditions are right for high pollen counts. Grass pollen in particular will therefore cause high levels of pollution in the coming days.

In low-lying and valley areas, many grasses (brome grass, false oat-grass, false barley, annual meadow grass, vernal grass, cock's foot grass, ryegrass and foxtail grass) have already begun to flower. Consequently, in thermally favourable locations, they are slowly ushering in the main peak phase of the grass pollen season. 

In meadow areas, additional pollen levels from sorrel and plantain are also possible.

The white flakes currently appearing more frequently in the air and on the ground are poplar fluff, i.e. the seeds and seed hairs of the poplar. This poses no risk to allergy sufferers. As the dispersal of poplar fluff usually coincides very closely with the start of grass flowering, it is often said to have allergenic potential.

Pollen from birch, beech and oak is now only recorded very sporadically at monitoring stations. 

In higher altitudes, however, the flowering of the green alder is once again causing problems for people who are sensitive to birch pollen. 

In the east and south of the country, people who are sensitive to olive tree pollen may have to expect low concentrations of olive tree pollen in the air.

In the coming days, many lime trees will begin to flower or reach full bloom. As the flowers of this plant are adapted to insect pollination, they are generally rarely found in the air. However, the scent of the flowers may irritate the airways of sensitive individuals.

Conifer pollen is still present in the ambient air, but from an allergy perspective, it is not significant. 

Our air samples also contain increasing amounts of fungal spores, which can cause symptoms in people with allergies.

In addition to the pollen types mentioned, the pollen spectrum currently also includes nettles, umbellifers, elder, black locust, horse chestnut, sour grasses, papilionaceous plants, walnut and cypresses. However, these pose only a very low allergenic risk.