Forecast

High ragweed pollen levels in Burgenland!

The week gets off to a sunny and warm start in Burgenland, with temperatures of 25 to 29 degrees and a moderate to brisk south-easterly wind. On Tuesday, it will get even hotter, with temperatures reaching up to 33 degrees, before clouds, rain showers and thunderstorms set in on Wednesday, bringing a significant drop in temperature. The rainfall will provide some short-term relief for allergy sufferers. As the week progresses, the weather will settle down again, and with increasing sunshine, elevated pollen levels are once more expected. Ragweed remains the main allergen in Burgenland at the moment, alongside mugwort and fungal spores.

Ragweed is considered one of the strongest pollen allergens; even the smallest amounts can trigger significant allergic reactions. This year’s season is more difficult to forecast than in previous years due to the relatively dry summer months. Very high pollen levels are possible, particularly on dry days with winds from the east or south-east, as local pollen concentrations in the morning may be compounded by additional long-distance transport from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in the afternoon. The rain on Wednesday will, if at all, only provide temporary relief.

Common mugwort has now largely finished flowering in Burgenland as well. However, annual mugwort and Kamchatka mugwort are beginning to flower in isolated cases, meaning that pollen levels may rise again over the course of the coming week. As mugwort and ragweed both belong to the Asteraceae family, cross-reactions are possible.

The grass pollen season is largely over. Significant pollen levels are currently only coming from ornamental grasses in urban areas and from the onset of reed flowering. Particularly near Lake Neusiedl, which is surrounded by one of Europe’s largest reed beds, grass pollen concentrations may rise again locally and cause symptoms to flare up once more in sensitised individuals.

Fungal spore levels remain at moderate to high levels. High levels are expected particularly in the hours following the rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Those affected should, where possible, limit their time outdoors immediately after rain.

Pollen from stinging nettles, hemp, foxtail plants and plantain continues to be present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a low allergenic risk.