Pollen Explosion

As promised, I have been spotlighting up front the pollen count in all my blogs in April so hay fever sufferers can get what they need then be done with the rest of my narrative.

But today, you get bonus coverage as your wheezing and sneezing is taking on “Herculean” proportions. Of course, that phrase that calls upon the great Hercules uses both metaphor and hyperbole to get the point across. (There have been and will be many more high pollen count days. I know that, you know that. But I am a writer and the English language is just too beautiful for me to just say the pollen count is high).

Here’s the scoop!

Last week’s rains did yeomen work in washing the air free of tree pollen. The cool air that followed forced trees to take a break from their pollen producing shenanigans. So golfers at the Marshall Invitational and on your home course breathed fine this past weekend.

Now however, it’s time for payback as all that rain has given trees the moisture needed to grow. Once the sun came out late weekend and this week, trees restarted their pollen producing assembly lines.

Pollen levels came up on Monday to near the high range (100 grains per cubic meter is high), soared into the 500 range today and will likely make 1,000 before the week is out.

The next break in the pollen explosion will arrive with rain and cooler air by late Friday and the weekend, but until then tree sufferers take your antihistamine and follow these suggestions.

1. Keep the windows at home closed so pollen does not infiltrate thru the screen doors.

2. Drive with windows up and air conditioning on.

3. When you come inside, damp mop your hair since pollen will cling to your scalp and you could sleep all night and inhale the pollen without even knowing it.

4. Wear a face mask outdoors if you are highly allergic and curtail strenuous outdoor activities when counts are high.