Forecast

Mild and sunny weekend with intense pollen count!

The weather forecast promises temperatures between 10 and 15 °C and sunshine for the weekend. These are ideal conditions for the pollen count. Pollen allergy sufferers who are sensitised to hazel or alder must continue to expect high levels of pollen. Please take appropriate precautions before going outside.

The native alder has replaced hazel as the main allergen. In the Rhine Valley and in the valleys of Vorarlberg, the alders are currently in full bloom. Particularly dense stands can be found near rivers and lakes. Very high pollen concentrations can be reached here locally, which is why these areas should be avoided by allergy sufferers.

Although hazelnuts are already past their peak flowering period, they still have the potential to release pollen. In the higher altitudes of Vorarlberg, they will reach the peak of their bloom in the coming days. In parks and gardens, the hazel trees are shedding their dead catkins. The corkscrew hazels are now flowering in these locations and are causing an increased pollen load locally. People who are sensitised to hazel must continue to be prepared for high levels of exposure this weekend.

Hazel and alder are closely related to birch. People who are sensitised to birch may therefore experience cross-reactions. The phase of high exposure to the pollen of early bloomers will continue as long as it remains dry and sunny and will only end with extensive precipitation. Pollen allergy sufferers can significantly reduce contact with the allergen by wearing sunglasses and an FFP2 mask. Further information on avoiding allergens can be found here.

In climatically favourable locations, for example in residential areas or on sunny south-facing slopes, the first ash trees may be ready to bloom and cause initial local exposure in the coming days.

Yew, poplar, willow, elm and cypress have been detected in the pollen spectrum. In the lowlands of Vorarlberg, the pollen load from these early bloomers is low to moderate.

From a current perspective, the data from our birch flowering readiness model indicate that this will be reached in mid-March.

Forecast from 2026-03-05

Note: The data shown here are model data for the expected start of flowering. For more detailed information on the expected pollen count, please refer to the text forecasts.