Forecast

Ragweed and fungal spores are causing problems, but rain on Wednesday will bring some relief!

Across much of Styria, the week is set to begin sunny and dry. In southern and eastern Styria, temperatures will even reach over 30 °C. In these regions, ragweed is the main allergen. In the mountainous regions of Styria, however, fungal spores are the main allergen. On Wednesday, there will be widespread rain across Styria, with thunderstorms in some areas. Thunderstorms with increased lightning activity can cause pollen grains to burst, releasing more allergens. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the airways and lead to sudden spikes in allergy symptoms, known as ‘thunderstorm asthma’.

Ragweed releases its pollen mainly in the morning. Regionally, there may be increased long-distance transport of ragweed pollen when wind directions from the east or south-east prevail. Highly allergenic ragweed grows predominantly on railway embankments, rubble tips and roadsides, and can also form dense stands in soya, pumpkin and sunflower fields. Even just a few pollen grains per cubic metre of inhaled air can trigger symptoms in sensitised individuals.

If you spot ragweed populations whilst out and about, you can report the plant via the Ragweed Finder app or at ragweedfinder.at, thereby informing the relevant authorities in the federal states about the presence of this invasive plant.

The late-flowering mugwort species, such as annual mugwort and Katschatka mugwort, have begun to flower and may cause localised problems. Canadian goldenrod is also in flower. For allergy sufferers who are sensitised to mugwort or ragweed, Canadian goldenrod can trigger cross-reactions. Dense stands of these composite flowers should be avoided by people with sensitisation.

Most grasses have already finished flowering in Styria. However, along still and flowing waters, reeds are beginning to flower sporadically. People with allergies who are sensitive to grasses should bear this in mind when out walking. Plantain, goosefoot and stinging nettle pollen are also currently being detected at our monitoring stations.

Following rainfall, fungi release increased amounts of spores, which can lead to short-term spikes in pollen levels.

In addition to the pollen types already mentioned, pollen from hemp, carnation and cypress plants is also currently present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a very low allergenic risk.