Forecast

Mugwort and maize are in bloom; rain at the weekend will bring some relief!

The second half of the week will start off sunny, allowing pollen to spread unhindered. From Saturday afternoon, however, a rain front will move in, bringing heavy rainfall until the start of next week. The rain will provide those with pollen allergies with some short-term relief. The rainfall encourages the production of fungal spores, which can lead to increased pollen levels.

The peak of the grass pollen season has passed in the low-lying areas of Vorarlberg. Here, low or moderate pollen levels are generally expected. However, in forests or along streams, there may still be locally intense pollen counts. As long as the sun is shining, symptom-triggering grass pollen may be present on mountain meadows and alpine pastures above 1,500 metres above sea level. If the wind is blowing in the right direction, grass pollen can be carried from these areas down to the lowlands, increasing local pollen levels there. This is particularly likely during the afternoon and evening hours. 

People who are sensitive to grass pollen should be aware of flowering maize fields. Maize pollen is among the largest in the plant kingdom and therefore only travels short distances. As a result, high pollen counts occur only in the immediate vicinity of maize fields.

Sorrel and plantain are also still in flower and contribute further to the pollen count.

Common mugwort is flowering in Vorarlberg, though it will not reach its peak flowering until August. As its pollen is highly allergenic, people with sensitivities should avoid areas with dense stands of the plant (e.g. on railway embankments, rubbish tips, roadsides, and along the Rhine and the Ill). For this group of allergy sufferers, cross-reactions to celery, carrots and camomile may occur.

Ragweed is also growing and sprouting; it will take until August for it to flower. If you spot ragweed populations whilst out and about, you are welcome 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 sightings to take further action.

At present, fungal spores – particularly Cladosporium and Alternaria – are causing moderate to high levels of pollution. Very high concentrations of fungal spores can be released, particularly in the vicinity of fields where harvesting is taking place. At higher altitudes, pollution levels are lower.

In addition to the pollen types already mentioned, pollen from bee balm, nettle family plants, umbellifers, amaranth family plants and juniper is currently also present in the pollen spectrum. However, these pose only a low allergenic risk.