Buffalo Allergy Forecast (2024)

FAQs

When is the allergy season in Buffalo NY? ›

June is the grass pollen season in Buffalo, with grasses such as Timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass releasing their pollen. This shift from tree to grass pollen means there's little respite for allergy sufferers as the seasons change. Finally, in mid-August, ragweed pollen becomes the main allergen.

You're not alone, especially if you're in states like Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. These are the worst states for allergies, linking factors such as high pollen counts, climate change, and regional vegetation to increased rates of allergic symptoms.

If you have seasonal allergies, some of the best cities to live in include Seattle, WA, Durham, NC, and San Francisco, CA. These three cities tend to have lower pollen counts than other cities across the United States, reducing your exposure to pollen during allergy season.

The pollen season in New York City lasts mainly from April to August when most types of trees and grasses are in bloom. However, there are some tree species that bloom earlier, such as ash and birch especially if there has been a mild winter.

Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with the Allergy & Asthma Network. And the cause of this longer, more intense allergy season? Climate change. "There's higher amounts of pollen due to rising greenhouse gasses and more CO2 in the air, which plants thrive off of," Parikh tells CNBC Make It.

Researchers predict these aren't outlier years, pointing to climate change as responsible for worsening allergy season. This past winter was the warmest on record across the continental U.S. Fewer days below freezing meant plants were able to bloom earlier and longer.

Australia has often been called the “allergy capital of the world”. An estimated one in ten Australian children develop a food allergy in their first 12 months of life.

Pennsylvania

But the 13 million Pennsylvania residents are also prone to some of the most challenging cities to live in if you've got seasonal allergies. Specifically, the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has ranked Scranton, PA, the most challenging place to live with seasonal allergies.

According to the State of the Air report published in 2023 by the American Lung Association (ALA), these are the top-ranked cleanest cities by year-round particle pollution: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii. Cheyenne, WY.

What climate is best for allergy sufferers? ›

The "best" cities are clustered in the Desert Southwest with limited vegetation. The Great Lakes are also home to a cluster of "best cities." They have a shorter growing season and winds disperse the pollen and occasional rains knock pollen levels down.

Spring. During the spring, Northern and Southern Californians are typically hit the hardest by springtime tree allergies. Birch, elm, cedar, cypress, pine, and olive trees are common triggers in the northern part of the state. Down south, ash, oak, sycamore, walnut, and mulberry can be the most triggering.

Both seasonal and year-round allergies can cause fatigue. Getting tested by a board-certified allergist is the first step to finding relief.

When Is The Pollen Count High? Pollen counts usually rise in the morning, and reach their peak by midday or early afternoon. This is the time of day that allergies are often the worst, since there is a high concentration of pollen in the air.

In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Tree pollination begins earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall.

The timing and severity of allergies can vary by location and specific allergens. Spring and fall are generally the worst months for allergies, as tree, grass, and weed pollens are prevalent. Winter and late summer or early fall can offer some relief, with reduced levels of certain allergens.

Because it has all four seasons throughout the year, New York has a fairly typical start and end to allergy season. However, seasonal allergies can get particularly bad in New York City because of the abundance of pollen. Wyndly is a great resource for allergy sufferers.