Pollen levels will remain elevated across much of England and Wales over the next five days
Grass pollen continues to be the dominant allergen, with some weed pollen still around. As warmer, drier and increasingly settled weather develops through the weekend, many areas are likely to see persistent high or very high pollen levels.
On Thursday, the highest pollen levels will be found across southern and eastern England. London and the South East are forecast to see very high grass pollen and high weed pollen, while high grass pollen levels are also expected across the East of England, the Midlands, the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales and the South West. Further north, pollen levels will generally be lower, with low levels across much of Scotland and moderate levels in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland.
Friday is expected to bring some of the highest pollen levels of the forecast period. Very high grass pollen is likely across the East Midlands and East of England, while London and the South East remain at very high levels.
High levels will continue across much of England and Wales, while parts of central and eastern Scotland may see a temporary increase to moderate or high levels.
Pollen levels ease slightly in some areas on Saturday, though high grass pollen remains likely across much of central, eastern and southern England. Moderate levels become more widespread across northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland is expected to remain largely low risk.
High grass pollen remains throughout the weekend across a number of western and southern regions, including Wales, the Midlands, the southwest and the southeast. Yorkshire and Humber is also expected to remain at high levels.
Northern areas generally continue to experience lower pollen levels. High pollen levels persist across many southern and central parts of England at the start of next week, particularly across the Midlands, East of England, London and the southeast and the southwest. Elsewhere, moderate or low levels become more common, especially across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The pollen forecast is updated each day here.
READ MORE: How does weather affect pollen and can pets get hay fever?
Is pollen worse this year?
The Met Office has no data to support the claim that pollen is ‘worse’ this year. Pollen levels can vary significantly depending on the timing of weather patterns and the types of pollen in season. Some years may feel more severe for individuals due to a combination of high pollen counts and exposure to multiple pollen types at once. The grass and weed seasons started earlier and stronger than we would usually see due to the warm weather experienced during the late May bank holiday weekend, so this may be impacting some people’s perception of the season.
Grass pollen is the main cause of hay fever at this time of year and typically peaks in June, with levels currently high or even very high across parts of the country. Weed pollen is also present at lower levels than grass.
Recent warm, dry conditions with light winds are ideal for pollen to be released and carried through the air, while a lack of rainfall means it isn’t being washed away, which can make symptoms feel particularly severe. Spells of rainfall with sunshine in the last few weeks have provided the ideal growing conditions for grass and weeds.
For most hay fever sufferers, the worst conditions are warm, dry and breezy days. These allow pollen to be released easily and spread efficiently through the atmosphere. Calm, dry days can also lead to high levels locally, as pollen accumulates near the source.
By contrast, cooler conditions, higher humidity and rainfall tend to reduce airborne pollen, at least temporarily.
What are the different types of pollen?
If you're a hay fever sufferer, it helps to understand which type of pollen affects you and when it's likely to be in the air. The UK pollen season typically follows the below pattern, but the seasons can start earlier or run later depending on where you live in the UK and what the weather's doing.
How do I access the Met Office Pollen forecast?
You can access our pollen forecast on the Met Office website or download our app to get pollen alerts sent straight to your phone.
You can also keep up to date with weather warnings, and find the latest weather forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.
