March 1, 2019

Spring Allergy Season Coming Soon to Philadelphia and South Jersey

Though it still may feel like winter, trees in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area are focused on spring, which means spring allergy season is soon to come.  

According to Dr. Donald Dvorin, a board certified Allergist, from The Asthma Center and Delaware Valley’s official pollen and mold spore counter,  cold days and nights are preventing most tree buds from opening and thus holding off the release of pollen. Over the past 10 years, spring pollen has generally been present at the beginning of the second week of March.  However, the spring seasons for 2018 and 2017 had unusual beginnings, and may hold clues for what we can expect with the upcoming spring 2019 pollen season.

The Asthma Center Outlook – When Will Spring Allergy Season Begin?

First of all, in 2017, warm spring-like temperatures arrived early (74 degrees on 3/1/2017 and 62 degrees on 3/2/2017) which contributed to Dr. Dvorin observing extreme levels of tree pollen during the first week of March.  In contrast, winter weather clung to our region in 2018 including a late Nor’easter that brought snow the third week of March and delayed onset of the spring allergy season for several weeks.

Based on historical data from National Weather Service, it appears that the 2019 weather for our region is following patterns similar to 2018 (see below).  According to the “Monthly Forecast” from Accuweather and the “Long Range Outlook” from EPAWA Weather Consulting, the Delaware Valley can expect March to bring a variety of weather conditions.  

Spring 2019 Tree Pollination Onset

First Week (March 4^rd – March 10^th): Low/Weak outlook for “early” onset of spring tree pollination.

• Winter holds on with cold temperatures (Highs predicted between 28 – 40 degrees and Lows consistently below freezing, possibly dropping into the teens on some nights.  Chances for snow are considered high. 

Second Week (March 11^th – March 17^th): Possible but Unlikely outlook for “typical” onset of spring tree pollination.

• Spring-like temperatures and pleasant days are likely.  Nights will still be chilly with lows barely above freezing.

Third Week (March 18^th – March 24^th): High/Strong outlook for “delayed but heavy” onset of spring tree pollination.

• Chances for rain are considered moderate, but Highs are predicted to consistently range between in the mid-50s.  Overnight lows are expected to stay above freezing.

Finally, as the weather warms, we will see a surge in pollen as trees across the region start to bloom. Locations further south (e.g. Alabama, Florida, Carolinas) have already reported high levels of tree pollen.

Local Daily Pollen Counts

Dr. Donald Dvorin has monitored and analyzed our region’s pollen with a Burkard Spore Trap Device, which samples the air by trapping pollen and other airborne molecules on a greased slide. Every morning, he removes the slide and examines it under a microscope. Different plant pollen have unique shapes, so he can count how much of each plant pollen is on the slide and use that metric to determine the daily pollen count.  The Asthma Center publishes these daily pollen, mold, and ragweed counts through the spring, summer and fall and provides a free daily (Monday – Friday) pollen and mold count subscription service. ( Subscribe for free here. )  The Asthma Center expects pollen counts to resume mid March.

Delaware Valley’s Only Certified Pollen/Mold Counting Station

The National Allergy Bureau is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology that oversees and certifies pollen/pollen counting stations across the US. The Asthma Center operates the only certified pollen/mold stations in the Delaware Valley, with one location in Philadelphia and the other in South Jersey-Mount Laurel, NJ.

You can follow our local pollen counts on our website, Facebook page, and direct to your inbox by subscribing for free here.

The Asthma Center is the Delaware Valley’s Official Pollen Count Station. 

PA: (215) 569-1111  NJ: (856) 235-8282

Center City Philadelphia • Society Hill Philadelphia • Northeast Philadelphia

Bala Cynwyd – Lower Merion PA

Langhorne – Bucks County PA

Mt. Laurel NJ • Woodbury NJ • Hamilton – Princeton NJ • Forked River NJ

For interviews and tours of the Delaware Valley’s only certified pollen and mold spore stations for the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) certified pollen, ragweed, and mold spore counting stations in Philadelphia, PA and Mt. Laurel, NJ, please email gwoodlyn@asthmacenter.com.

If interested in purchasing historical pollen and mold spore counts, please email gwoodlyn@asthmacenter.com for pricing information.