While many New Yorkers are enjoying this mild and relatively snowless winter, people living with allergy are dreading what lays just around the corner.


What You Need To Know

  • A relatively warm winter may lead to an early allergy season

  • Trees pollinate as soon the temperature stays in the 50s for a few days

  • Different allergens will pop up across New York

  • There is a likelihood of above-normal temperatures heading into early March

We may experience a longer-than-normal allergy season all across New York thanks to one of the warmest winters we have seen in recorded history.

Melting snow
(Spectrum News/Chloe Magill)

Trees may start pollinating sooner than normal

Allergens may rear their ugly head earlier than normal with a start time as early as late February or early March.

Trees can release pollen as early as late February, especially temperatures continue on a mostly above-average track. Trees pollinate when temperatures stay above 50 for a few days.

Free Trees Birch Trees photo and picture

Different types allergens will show up across New York State 

Springtime allergens vary across the state, with certain plant species being more predominate in some locations than others. Across western and Central New York (in cities like Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse), we deal with oak, walnut, hickory, maple and willow tree pollen in early spring.

Across eastern New York (cities like Albany and Poughkeepsie), we deal with oak, cedar, willow and hickory trees pollinating come the spring.

From the Climate Prediction Center, the temperature outlook for the end of February and beginning of March calls for a likelihood of above-normal temperatures. An early allergy season is possible this year!

Expect above normal temperatures heading into early March

From the Climate Prediction Center, the temperature outlook for the end of February and beginning of March calls for a likelihood of above-normal temperatures. An early allergy season is possible this year!

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If you're a seasonal allergy sufferer, it might not hurt to get an allergy consultation with your doctor over the next couple of weeks.

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