Air quality forecasts and alerts

Pollen

The daily pollen forecasts may be low, moderate, high or very high.

Exposure to pollen grains can cause hay fever (seasonal allergenic rhinitis). Symptoms of hay fever include:

  • sneezing and coughing
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • sneezing and coughing
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • itchy, red or watery eyes
  • itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
  • loss of smell
  • pain around your temples and forehead
  • headache
  • earache
  • feeling tired

If you have asthma, you might also:

  • have a tight feeling in your chest
  • be short of breath
  • wheeze and cough

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

In York, the pollen season normally runs from March to November. Hay fever symptoms are usually worse during these months, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy.

The pollen forecast helps you to know when pollen levels are expected to be high so that you can do things to ease your symptoms.

You will find advice about how to treat hay fever, and information about pollen, by following the links below.

Related links: