Jacksonville area to get an early start to pollen season

Action News Jax's First Alert Weather team is warning viewers -- pine pollen is on its way in the coming days! The pine pollen is already as far north as Clay and St. Johns County, according to First Alert Weather's Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh.

Buresh said the average first date is the first week or two of February, but that pollen can appear as early as Jan. 20. This occurrence is unseasonably early.

The only interruption to the pine pollen, according to Buresh, would be a hard freeze.

That means it would have to be below 29 degrees for 4 or more hours. Rain could have help bring some relieve, but will not kill the pollen.

Buresh said that he expects no freezes for at least the next nine to teen days, and that there are no significant rain until at least next weekend. While there will be a dew showers this weekend, it will not be enough to impact the pollen.

While most of the population is sensitive to oak pollen, the spring is by far the worst time of year for any pollen allergies, and this year we will get an early start.

More information on pollen:

• Pine pollen first (product of pine[!] trees) – greenish fine dust
• Oak pollen follows – a little more yellow- ish / tan – very difficult for some allergy sufferers.  The oak pollen occurs as oak trees shed their old leaves in favor of new ones.
• Virtually all other flowering plants/shrubs emit at least some pollen & will add to the mix in the coming weeks/months (depending on temps.)
• Pollen season length & intensity is highly weather dependent
• A hard freeze or series of hard freezes will at least arrest the pollen season….. or delay it depending on where plants are in their pollen stage
• There have only been two "official" (JIA) so far this season (1 in Nov. & 1 in Dec.)….. zero at the beaches & much of St. Johns Co.  Should have had 6-8 freezes by now….. 18 is the season avg.
• Plants / trees releasing pollen gradually spread from south to north (as temps. warm)
• Rain &/or high humidity will temporarily lower pollen counts
• Gusty winds &/or dry air will increase pollen counts
• There is NO agency – private/gov't or otherwise that measures pollen counts locally
• The First Alert Weather Center will issue outlooks for the next day: low/moderate/high/very high – based on our forecast conditions (wet/dry/hot/cold, windy, etc)

Cox Media Group