Sunshine and mid-winter warmth are escalating pollen levels across southern Australia and it’s already giving hay fever sufferers the sniffles.

Plenty of sunshine and northwesterly winds are bringing the warmest weather in more than two months, bumping daytime temperatures five to 10 degrees above average and causing tree pollen to be released in large quantities.

It will get worse for hay fever sufferers over the next few days with pollen levels on the rise.

Increasing northwesterly winds will transport higher amounts of pollen great distances in the coming days, leading to the highest pollen counts seen since last season.

High or even very high pollen levels are likely by mid week across southeastern Australia, where trees have thrived after big rains earlier in the year.

Even coastal areas of New South Wales are getting a noticeable increase in pollen with warm weather arriving soon after heavy rain. Sydney is now having its warmest weather in more than two months, barely a week after receiving 200mm of rain.

Hay fever sufferers will get some relief later in the week after rain and a colder change arrive. But beware that the onset of rain may trigger a brief pollen spurt.

– Homepage image / Spring is in the air, Zelda Wynn

– Weatherzone
 

Are you in New Zealand and already being affected by pollen/hayfever?  Tell us by posting a comment below!