BATON ROUGE — If your allergies are acting up right now, you’re not alone. Tree pollen counts across the Bayou State have been up, and are expected to stay that way for at least the next few days.
“It’s mostly a tree pollen issue, and it’s not all that surprising” said State Climatologist Jay Grymes. “You might notice trees have been budding all over the place. A little burst of warm weather has prompted the trees to get a little bit ahead of the curve.”
It’s not just the budding trees that are causing allergy issues, though. “It’s going to be enhanced by the fact that the winds are going to be up for the next couple of days,” Grymes explained. “That’s going to allow for a greater spread of that pollen as well.”
“People who are very sensitive to pollen are probably going to have a couple of nuisance days, but not critically bad,” Grymes said.
There is some rain in the forecast which could bring some relief, but Louisianians won’t be out of the woods. “We’ll get a front in here this weekend that should knock the pollen down a little bit, given the rain that rolls through,” he said. “But it certainly is not going to stop the trees from doing what they want to do.”
If you suffer from allergies, doctors recommend over-the-counter medications like Allegra, Claritin, and Zyrtec. Many people also reach for nasal sprays, which can bring some relief.
If you think you’re suffering from something more serious than seasonal allergies, remember that flu season is still in full swing in Louisiana. The CDC’s latest flu map shows the state is still reporting ‘very high’ flu activity.
MORE: Current flu numbers in Louisiana remain ‘very high’
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