First hazel pollen on the way – start of the pollen season
Published: Tuesday, Jan 23rd 2024, 10:50
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The pollen season begins. As soon as the sun shines and temperatures rise above five degrees, the hazel pollen will start flying in the coming days. People with pollen allergies should therefore take their medication and monitor the situation.
Hay fever sufferers are likely to have already noticed hazel pollen in the last few days, as the Swiss Allergy Center announced on Tuesday. However, this is significantly later than in 2023, when hazel pollen already flew out at the beginning of January, making it record-breakingly early.
Although the hazelnuts were ready to flower at the beginning of January this year, the cold prevented them from blossoming. Rain and a lack of sunshine are currently keeping the pollen in check on the Central Plateau. However, as soon as the sun comes out and the temperature rises, moderate to heavy hazel pollen counts can be expected across the country.
The Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, which operates the pollen monitoring network, is currently recording low levels of hazel pollen in the lowlands. In Ticino, the network has been measuring a moderate to high pollen count since the end of December.
On the southern side of the Alps, the alder blossom is also slowly beginning. However, the alders are different, as the Allergy Center writes. The three native alder species black, gray and green alder pose fewer challenges for allergy sufferers than the introduced purple alder.
The purple alder is a hardy tree that is becoming increasingly common in avenues in Swiss cities. It is highly allergenic and flowers earlier than the native species. According to observations by the Allergy Center, its pollen was already on the move around Christmas time.
Anyone who is currently sneezing but does not know whether it is a cold or an allergy should undergo a test, the center advises.
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