A warmer-than-usual winter has triggered an early and intense pollen explosion across much of the US. Allergy sufferers have a rough few weeks ahead.
If your eyes have been itching and your nose has been running since the second week of March, you're not imagining it. The 2026 spring allergy season is tracking as one of the worst in recent memory, and it started earlier than almost any season on record across large swaths of the eastern United States.
The culprit is a winter that never quite showed up. Temperatures across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic averaged 4–6°F above normal from December through February, which meant trees that typically wait until late March or early April to release pollen started doing so in early March. Tree pollen — primarily oak, birch, maple, and cedar — is now at extreme levels in cities from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., and as far north as Philadelphia.
What makes this year particularly rough is the overlap. Normally, tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen peak at different times, giving allergy sufferers a few weeks of relief between waves. This year, the warm winter has compressed the calendar, and tree and early grass pollens are surging simultaneously in some regions. That means people who are sensitive to multiple allergens are getting hit all at once.
“What makes this year particularly rough is the overlap.”
Climate scientists have been tracking this trend for years. Warmer springs directly extend the pollen season — each 1°C increase in average temperature adds roughly two weeks to allergy season. The US has been warming at roughly twice the global average rate in winter, which makes spring allergy escalation one of the most visible public health consequences of climate change that most people will actually notice in their daily lives.
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Key Takeaways
→Allergies: A warmer-than-normal winter caused trees to release pollen several weeks earlier than usual.
→Pollen: A warmer-than-normal winter caused trees to release pollen several weeks earlier than usual.
→Spring: A warmer-than-normal winter caused trees to release pollen several weeks earlier than usual.
→Health: A warmer-than-normal winter caused trees to release pollen several weeks earlier than usual.
For people with allergic asthma, the situation is more serious than a runny nose. Pollen-triggered asthma attacks spike during high-pollen days, and emergency room visits for respiratory complaints tend to rise in parallel. Doctors advise people with asthma to check daily pollen counts and adjust activity accordingly.
The practical advice for getting through the next several weeks hasn't changed, but it's worth repeating. Keep windows closed on high-pollen days, especially in the morning when counts peak. Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors. Start antihistamines before symptoms appear rather than waiting — they're more effective as preventatives than treatments. For severe cases, allergists still recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) as the only treatment that addresses the underlying sensitivity rather than just masking symptoms.
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Pollen counts are expected to remain elevated through late April in most of the country, with the Southeast likely seeing relief first and the Northeast and Pacific Northwest staying elevated through May. The grass pollen season, which affects a different population of sufferers, is expected to begin in earnest by mid-April.
The silver lining, if there is one: forecasters are calling for above-average rainfall this spring in much of the country, and rain washes pollen out of the air temporarily. When it rains, breathe easy. Literally.
A warmer-than-normal winter caused trees to release pollen several weeks earlier than usual. Combined with tree and grass pollens overlapping, allergy sufferers are being hit harder and sooner than in most recent years.
When will 2026 spring allergy season end?
Tree pollen is expected to remain elevated through late April in most of the US, with the Southeast getting relief first. Grass pollen season begins in mid-April and extends through May or June depending on the region.
What helps with spring allergies in 2026?
Start antihistamines before symptoms appear, keep windows closed on high-pollen days, shower after being outdoors, and check daily pollen counts. For severe or recurring allergies, immunotherapy from an allergist is the most effective long-term option.
