Tree allergy season has started, and many South Carolina residents have already felt its effects. There are many reports of cars with a yellow coating and horizons with a yellowish tint. The yellow pollen comes from Pine trees, but other pollen from oak, bayberry, pine, hickory, walnut, ash, mulberry, cedar, and willow trees cause especially bad allergies during spring.
See the haze in the air......that's not smoke, it's pollen. Drove through South Carolina this morning and kept passing through clouds of it. Peak tree pollen 🤧 😫 pic.twitter.com/iRVdiLwfl8
— Drivingmebatty (@drivingmebatty1) March 21, 2025
Other allergens, like dust mites and mold, peak in summer. The late fall and winter usually provide a break from allergies as cold fronts stop pollen levels and allow for a breather. However, in warmer winters, the coast might not get so lucky.
The pollen forecast for South Carolina through at least Sunday. pic.twitter.com/ZZblibe8JN
— Daniel Bonds (@Daniel_Bonds) March 21, 2025
As we move into warmer months, our ecosystem starts to wake up and move. The direction of the winds will also play a big part in how much pollen moves around. This week, tree pollen levels are expected to remain high, and grass pollen levels are expected to remain moderate across the Upstate, Midlands, and Coast.
Climate Change and Allergies
According to a Climate Central study, climate change contributes to earlier, longer, and worse allergy seasons for millions of Americas. Warmer trends lead to fewer freezing days each year, which gives plants more time to grow and release allergy-inducing pollen. This freeze-free growing season has increased in 87 percent of the 198 cities analyzed since 1970.
One hundred seventy-two towns saw an increase of 20 days in their freeze-free season.
The Southeast's average freeze season length between 1970 and 2024 was 229 days, an increase of 18 days during this same period.
Carbon pollution traps heat in the atmosphere, making the temperatures warmer. These warmer temperatures boost pollen production in plants, especially grasses and ragweed.
Try these tips to limit your allergy outbreaks.
Doctors recommend keeping your windows closed. An air purifier can help clean the air. Change your air conditioning and heating filters. If you are working on your garden, wear a mask and shower as soon as you come in the house. Limiting your time outdoors will also help your sinuses and allergies and make your eyes less watery.