The windy and mild weather over the next couple of days may well see an uptick in allergies. The wind will help rattle the pollen and allergens out of trees, plants and grasses with the warm air helping the fine particles dry out and fly further in the air…for you to breathe in.

You may have watery eyes, red eyes, a runny nose, an itchy throat, the sneezes, a cough – all thanks to Mother Nature.

Windy west to north west winds often lift pollen levels in New Zealand, especially in spring.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the next two days will be high risk for many sufferers, and Sunday too when the nor’westers return for a time. If it’s raining then the risk of allergies is significantly lower.

By Monday a wetter, colder, southerly should help put a damper on the sneezes and by Tuesday high pressure in the lower South Island will ensure calm conditions, also better weather for sufferers.

Pollen usually peaks around October and November in New Zealand but some people can suffer from allergies all year round.

– Image: Air pressure/wind map for Friday PM 

– WeatherWatch.co.nz