How Climate Change Intensifies Your Seasonal Allergies
▼ Summary
– Climate change is causing longer and more severe pollen seasons across the Northern Hemisphere, with about a quarter of US adults and 1 in 5 children having seasonal allergies.
– Rising temperatures and carbon dioxide pollution are worsening pollen seasons, and heat waves, air pollution, and natural disasters can also exacerbate allergy symptoms.
– Spring bloom arrived early across much of the US in 2026, continuing a trend of extending allergy seasons due to climate change.
– AccuWeather predicts high tree pollen in the Ohio River Valley and Pacific Northwest this spring, and early grass pollen spikes in the Northern Plains and Great Lakes.
– The Rockies may see an intense weed pollen season, while New England and parts of the Gulf South could have lower tree pollen due to cooler spring and less rain.
It’s not just your imagination. Seasonal allergies are getting worse, and climate change is a major reason why.
Across the Northern Hemisphere, warming temperatures and rising carbon dioxide levels are driving longer, more intense pollen seasons. Dr. Neelima Tummala, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at NYU Langone Health, hears the same complaint from patients year after year: that their allergies feel worse than ever. And she says they are probably right.
Roughly one-quarter of U. S. adults and one in five children suffer from seasonal allergies. For these millions of Americans, spring brings a familiar wave of misery,runny noses, itchy eyes, asthma flare-ups, and symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to serious medical emergencies.
The problem is accelerating. Rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide pollution are fueling stronger pollen seasons nationwide. On top of that, heat waves, air pollution, and climate-driven natural disasters can all worsen allergy symptoms.
While experts caution that it is still too early to fully assess the 2026 pollen season compared to past years, the long-term trend is unmistakable. Early evidence already points to another difficult year for people with allergies.
Data from the USA National Phenology Network, which tracks seasonal patterns in plants and animals, shows that spring bloom arrived early across much of the country this year.
AccuWeather meteorologists confirm that this year’s trends fit squarely within the broader pattern of an extending allergy season driven by climate change.
Their forecast predicts high tree pollen levels this spring in the Ohio River Valley and parts of the Pacific Northwest. In the Northern Plains and Great Lakes region, a combination of heavy rainfall and warmer weather could trigger early grass pollen spikes in June and July. The Rockies are expected to face an intense weed pollen season. Meanwhile, New England and parts of the Gulf South may see lower-than-normal tree pollen levels, thanks to a cooler spring and reduced rainfall.
(Source: Ars Technica)