Forecast

It’s still hot, and the mugwort is becoming more and more of a nuisance!

Although the heatwave is set to ease off slightly in the second half of the week, it will remain very warm, with temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. In Burgenland, the chances of substantial rainfall in the coming days are extremely slim. Nevertheless, moderate to high levels of fungal spores are to be expected; these currently represent one of the main allergens in the air. Grass pollen is now present only in small quantities, whilst mugwort levels are on the rise.

Grass flowering is now also well advanced along riverbanks and in woodlands and generally causes only low levels of pollen concentration. Maize flowering has also already finished; it will be some time yet before reed flowering begins and causes grass pollen levels to rise again.

Along paths and roadsides, it is now mainly sorrel, goosefoot plants and plantain that are causing pollen levels to rise. 

Mugwort populations in Burgenland are already well established and may cause low to moderate levels of pollen exposure. However, the first peak in pollen levels is not expected until mid-August.

Ragweed pollen has already been detected at our monitoring stations and will continue to be present in low concentrations in the pollen spectrum over the coming days, before the season begins in earnest across the region in a few weeks’ time.

If you spot ragweed populations whilst out and about, please feel free to report them via the ‘Ragweed Finder’ citizen science platform. Reports can be submitted either via the website ragweedfinder.at or via the app (for Android and iOS). The reports are checked by experts from the “Ragweed Finder” team, plotted on the ragweed map and forwarded at regular intervals to the relevant authorities in the federal states. These authorities can then use the reports to take further action.

We are currently at the peak of fungal spore levels. High levels of spores from Alternaria and Cladosporium are therefore to be expected.