In this week’s edition of Climate Friday, Meteorologist John Burchfield explains how the allergy season is shifting and what these changes mean for you.
TOLEDO, Ohio — If you’ve noticed your allergy symptoms kicking in earlier and lasting longer than they used to, you’re not alone. Allergy season is getting longer, and climate change is a big reason why.
In this week’s edition of the Climate Friday Newsletter, Meteorologist John Burchfield explains how the allergy season is shifting and what these changes mean for you.
Warmer springs, longer seasons
Over the past decade, Toledo’s spring temperatures have been rising steadily. April is now 1.5 degrees warmer on average than it was just ten years ago. May has warmed even more- by 2.3 degrees. And perhaps most important for allergy sufferers, overnight low temperatures in May have climbed by 2.4 degrees.
Why does that matter? Those warmer nights mean fewer freezing temperatures, which allows plants and their pollen to thrive longer. This shift isn’t just about feeling a little warmer. It’s changing the way our seasons work.
45 more days of pollen?
Since 1970, the number of freeze-free days in Toledo has increased by about 45 days. That’s a significant 27% jump in the length of our growing season. Plants that produce allergenic pollen- like ragweed, oak, and birch- are taking full advantage of that longer window. More time to grow means more pollen in the air, and for those of us sensitive to it, more time spent sneezing, sniffling, and reaching for allergy medicine.
This is part of a broader national trend. A study conducted by Climate Central using data from NOAA’s Regional Climate Centers found that 87% of 198 U.S. cities now have longer growing seasons than they did in 1970.
While the biggest jumps have happened in the Northwest and Southwest, Toledo stands out as one of the most impacted cities in the Midwest- well above the Ohio Valley’s average increase of 13 freeze-free days. This sizeable increase in the growing season has impacted area farmers, gardeners, and yes- allergy sufferers.
What this means for you
Here in the Toledo metro area, we’re feeling the impacts in our lungs, eyes, and sinuses. Allergy season now starts earlier in the spring and lingers longer into the fall. And with higher pollen counts expected during these extended seasons, people with asthma or other respiratory conditions could see more flare-ups and symptoms.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, here are a few things to keep in mind:
And while we can take steps to adapt, this is also a wake-up call that local effects of climate change are very real. Whether it’s longer allergy seasons, heavier rainfall, or more frequent extreme heat, we’re already experiencing these changes here at home. With the warmer weather over the past few weeks, you’ve likely reached not only for the shorts and sunglasses, but also the tissues.
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