Bad news for hay fever sufferers as North West to be hit with ‘pollen bomb’ this week

The Met Office has warned that pollen levels will be ‘very high’ from today across the North West. 

It’s really bad news for hay fever sufferers who are set for a difficult week with ‘very high’ pollen levels. 

The grass has flourished from the recent showers and now sunny weather, causing pollen levels to be high across almost all the county. 

In the North West, The Met Office predicts a ‘very high’ pollen count on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Friday and Sunday are predicted to be slightly lower at ‘high’. 

Forecasters have said it will be particularly bad for those who are allergic to grass pollen which is around 95% of hay fever suffers, but it will also include nettle, dock and fungal spores posing a risk. 

Unfortunately, the levels are going to remain high across the North West all weekend throughout the sunny spells. 

Symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, mouth and throat.

The news comes as the Met Office predicts hot temperatures all week with strong late-June sunshine. 

In the Met Office’s guide to surviving hay fever, they explain that antihistamine tablets are great to use at the first sign of symptoms but effects may take a couple of hours to kick in. Alternatively, nasal sprays and gels act directly in the nose and get to work within minutes.

A combination of the treatments helps many hay fever suffers. 

They also recommend to close windows at night, vacuum regularly, remove outdoor clothing, shower and wash your hair following pollen exposure.

For updates on the latest pollen counts see the Met Office’s forecast here.