Pack the tissues: Ragweed season back in full swing
A few weeks ago, a colleague asked a simple but popular question: “What’s going on with this pollen all of a sudden? It finally started to rain and now I can’t stop sneezing.”
During periods of dry weather, it’s well known that pollen roams about the air freely. But did this summer’s drought result in a subdued pollen season, and did the rain earlier this month lead to a pollen explosion?
Why are allergies in Texas so bad right now?
Ragweed season is in full swing and actually started in early August. The incredibly hot and dry summer San Antonio suffered through allowed for an overall low pollen year, surprising as that may be to those dealing with allergies.
San Antonio International Airport, the official climate observation site for the city, only recorded 2.02 inches of rain from June 1 to Aug. 31, which is nearly 6 inches below what typically falls during meteorological summer.
Pollen is how plants reproduce, but a lack of rain across Texas meant that some plants couldn’t produce pollen this
year, according to Christina Utz, a microbiologist for the city of Houston’s Department of Health.
When the calendar switched to September and rain started falling for the first time in weeks, pollen-producing plants began to wake up from their drought-induced slumber. Although San Antonio International only got about 0.43 inch of rain, September delivered much-needed moisture to trees and plants in the Hill Country.
With rain soaking into the
ground, allowing plants to come back to life a bit, pollen levels increased rapidly during the second half of the month. It’s no surprise that ragweed is the prime suspect this time of year, as just one plant can produce up to a billion grains of pollen each year.
Ragweed isn’t the only allergen out there right now. Elm pollen can be the second half of a double whammy for allergy sufferers, as elm season runs congruent with ragweed season, according to Utz.
Regardless of whether your sniffling and sneezing is caused by ragweed or elm pollen, you probably want to know whether relief is near. Unfortunately, ragweed season is still a few weeks from officially being done in Texas.
How long does ragweed season last?
Ragweed season lasts from early August to late October, typically peaking in either late September or early October. This means the peak of ragweed season in San Antonio has either arrived or is soon to arrive. This is not great news for those dealing with allergies, but you can do a few things to lessen the effects of ragweed pollen.
Utz, who suffers from ragweed allergies herself, recommends simple strategies such as limiting time outside and taking showers as soon as you get home. You also can take over-the-counter medications to combat symptoms if limiting time outside isn’t a viable option. Talk to your doctor or your pharmacist for recommendations on what may work best for you.
Are there other allergens to watch out for in the fall or winter?
An Asthma and Allergy
Foundation of America study found that Texas cities are among the most challenging places to live for allergy sufferers. In the study published in March, Houston ranked 12th on that list and Dallas came in second place.
Texas didn’t earn its allergen-prone status by having minimal pollen numbers during the fall and winter. In a climate like San Antonio’s, pollen is a nearly year-round part of life.
We do have fall and winter allergens, though they tend to affect fewer people than ragweed. Weed pollen numbers begin to climb in South Texas during the latter half of fall, while cedar season runs from January through February. Fall and winter allergies can be influenced tremendously by temperature, with a warmer and drier pattern favoring more pollen overall.