NC’s pollen season is starting to wind down. Here’s what to know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Yellow pine pollen will peak this week in North Carolina, then taper off by April.
- Smaller hardwood pollens like oak and maple are more allergenic than pine.
- Raleigh and Winston‑Salem rank among the 20 worst U.S. cities for seasonal allergies.
North Carolina is in the thick of tree pollen season, but the yellow pine pollen has officially begun tapering off.
Pine isn’t the only culprit — smaller hardwood tree pollens may actually be worse for allergy sufferers.
FULL STORY: NC’s pollen season is at its peak. Here’s when relief is coming
Here are key takeaways:
• Peak timing: Yellow pine pollen peaked in late March and taper off in early April, according to Robert Bardon, associate dean for Extension in NC State’s College of Natural Resources.
• Pine isn’t the worst offender: Hardwood trees like maple and oak are “considered more allergenic than pine pollen” because their pollen grains are smaller, lighter and rougher, making them easier to inhale, he said.
• Allergy rankings: Raleigh and Winston-Salem rank among the 20 worst places in the U.S. for allergy sufferers, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
• What’s in the air now: Recent data from the state’s Raleigh pollen sampler showed pine, oak, maple, sweet gum and birch as the predominant pollens.
• What comes next: Tree pollen will decrease as summer starts, followed by grass and weed pollen through the summer months and ragweed in September and October, according to the state Division of Air Quality.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
