Forecast

Heat and sun, mass dusting of grasses is over!

Although the mass dusting of the various grass species in the valleys and basins of Carinthia has come to an end, the allergic threshold can still be exceeded. Local site conditions are increasingly important for the level of grass pollen count. In shady meadows, along forest roads and in wooded areas, various later flowering grass species can be responsible for an increased pollen count. On forest slopes, in particular, the common meadow-grass can cause a locally limited high pollen count. Furthermore, an increased grass pollen count must also be expected on alpine meadows in mountain regions, especially in the morning.

In the eastern parts of Carinthia, maize is already beginning to flower. The pollen grains of the maize plant are heavy and can only travel short distances. However, grass pollen allergy sufferers can find themselves in a stressful situation in the vicinity of maize fields.

Additional allergic stress is caused by the release of pollen from various types of plantain and dock. Both types of pollen can trigger allergic symptoms in sensitised people.

Pollen with less allergological significance continues to be released by sweet chestnut and stinging nettle.

The rain showers forecast for the weekend may reduce the pollen count considerably, at least for a few hours.

Dr Helmut Zwander