Pollen Allergy Warning for Atlanta

[Retired Starman]

It is spring time in Atlanta, and that means you can expect very high pollen counts during the Championships this week. Today's pollen count (http://www.atlantaallergy.com/pollenCount.aspx) is 2942 particles per cubic meter. A count of 120 is considered Extremely High.

This means that if you are allergic to pollen, please bring any needed medications with you and plan on dealing with the results. Last week, the count was as high as 5733. Most of the pollen is grass and tree, with a lot of it being pine pollen. Pine pollen is usually large enough not to cause allergy problems, but it can still make your eyes scratchy, and eye drops may help.

With no rain expected until Saturday, there is nothing to clean the pollen from the air. It's just something we have to live with.

See you later this week, but come prepared.

Dr. Bob

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Wow, thanks for the warning! I thought it was bad up here in Michigan...
I will be sure to bring lots of tissues!

[ebarker]

but you can go out and make pollen angels.

[KathieK]

I'm here in my office in Ct with my eyes tearing from our own pollen counts. Dreading the pollen in Atlanta. Pine is one of my worst offenders.

[rotolomi]

Originally Posted by ebarker

but you can go out and make pollen angels.

is that snow?! in April?! OH MY- wait, nope it's just pollen.

[MikeReilly]

Last week our count was 5700 before the rain hit. For serious sufferers, you may want to consider a facemask, as rain is not forecast at all.

[Peter Matteson]

Thanks for the heads up. Time to start cycling the allergy meds for the season to get ready.

[MagiChau]

Good luck to everyone for surviving the pollen xD

[DonRotolo]

Would that be yellow snow? Or is it kinda greenish...

Sudafed to the rescue!

[Koko Ed]

My sister told me when she drove to work last week her car was covered in pollen when a decent rainfall fell and washed all the pollen off her car. When she came out a few hours later her car was covered in pollen again.

[darkangel]

I used to live in Atlanta (well, Marietta, but Atlanta's close enough). The pollen's really bad, although, for some reason, my allergies are actually worse up here in the north... Guess it's the type of pollen?

[kjolana1124]

Originally Posted by ebarker

but you can go out and make pollen angels.

I am 100% behind this idea.

[DarkFlame145]

Oh the joys of Northern GA in the spring. Last week I opened my window in the living room and put a fan in it to cool down my place. Two hours later my coffee table was covered in yellow pollen XD.

[pfreivald]

As a beekeeper, high pollen counts just make me smile...

Thanks for the warning on principle, though!

[Dancin103]

Thanks Dr. Bob. It's been pretty bad here in PA as well. I hope it clears up a bit by the end of this week.

Cass