The Met Office has issued an amber alert for Wales on Friday and Saturday due to a high weed pollen forecast for the next two days. The pollen forecast uses the forecaster's pollen model to produce forecasts for the next five days across the UK.
Pollen levels and hay fever symptoms
On Sunday, pollen levels will reduce to a low level but will rise again on Monday and Tuesday to a moderate level. With high levels of weed pollen in the air, people with hay fever will need to take steps to reduce symptoms. Hay fever symptoms can include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes and an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears. Less common symptoms include loss of smell, facial pain, sweating and headaches.
There are around 30 different types of pollen that cause hay fever, and most people are allergic to grass pollen, common in late spring and early summer. Tree pollen affects around 25% of people and is released during spring. Weed pollen can be released from early spring to late autumn.
10 things about pollen
The Met Office has released 10 things to know about pollen: 1. High pollen levels can affect anxiety in people with mood disorders. 2. Pets can get hay fever. 3. The pollen season can start as early as January and end as late as November. 4. Hay fever affects one in five people. 5. Spiderlings eat pollen. 6. Pollen is used in forensics to track locations. 7. Alcohol worsens hay fever effects. 8. Pollen is found in rocks over 120 million years old. 9. Rain can increase pollen levels after dry weather. 10. Urban areas have lower pollen counts, but pollen can combine with air pollution to trigger symptoms.
