Hazelnut trees approaching: The pollen season is just around the corner

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The eyes itch, the nose runs and in severe cases sleep is unthinkable. People with hay fever may have noticed hazel pollen in recent days, the Swiss Allergy Center announced on Tuesday. However, this is considerably later than 2023, when the hazel pollen fledged in early January and was therefore record-breaking early.

Although the hazels were ready to bloom in early January this year, the cold prevented them from blooming. Rain and lack of sun on the central plateau are currently keeping pollen levels in check. However, once the sun shines and temperatures rise, moderate to heavy hazel pollen pollution can be expected across the country.

The Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology Meteoschweiz, which manages the pollen monitoring network, is currently recording low hazel pollen levels in the lowlands. In Ticino, the network has measured moderate to high pollen levels since late December.

Pollen already around Christmas time

On the south side of the Alps, the alders are slowly starting to bloom. However, the alders differ, the allergy center writes. The three native alder species black, gray and green alder pose fewer challenges for allergy sufferers than the introduced purple alder.

As a resilient tree, the purple alder is increasingly found in avenues in Swiss cities. It is highly allergenic and blooms earlier than the native species. According to observations from the allergy center, their pollen was already on its way around Christmas time.

The center advises that anyone who is currently sneezing but does not know whether it is a cold or allergy should get tested. (SDA)

Source:Blick