The Met Office has issued a 'red alert' for hay fever across most of the UK, with 'very high' pollen levels forecast to persist until the weekend. England and Wales are expected to be worst affected, while much of Scotland and Northern Ireland also face elevated counts, though levels may ease later in the week.
Hay fever symptoms include frequent sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, throat, mouth or ears, and in some cases loss of smell, facial pain, sweating and headaches. The Met Office explained that the condition is triggered when the immune system reacts to pollen, releasing histamine and other chemicals.
Birch and ash pollen levels are predicted to be very high across southern England, Wales, northern England and Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday, with high plane pollen also expected. Around 10 million Britons suffer from hay fever, which typically develops in childhood but can start at any age.
Warmer weather exacerbates the problem, and parts of the UK could reach 19C on Tuesday and Wednesday, with London potentially hitting 24C – the hottest day of the year so far. The alert follows Storm Dave, which brought snow, wind and rain over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
