The pollen clouds have arrived and many of you aren’t happy! From sneezes and itchy eyes, to blocked noses, red eyes and of course that annoying pollen falling on everything outdoors.

Car windscreens have a layer of fluro green/yellow pollen as do outdoor furniture and BBQ covers, across both main islands.

Even those white sheets and towels drying outside on the line or deck may be covered in a layer of pollen within just an hour or so.

So what makes for the highest pollen counts in the air at this time of year?  The following: Wind – sun – warmth.

Combine those three and pollen levels will likely be higher – especially if that wind is passing over land (and not sea) before it reaches you. For example, a nor’wester in Canterbury, or a northerly in Wellington.

Pollen counts only climb from now through until about October then start to ease back a bit through November and December.

Ah-choo!