Pollen levels remain very high across much of the UK at the end of June, with grass pollen continuing to dominate and weed pollen also contributing to high overall levels in many areas.
Pollen levels remain very high across much of the UK at the end of June, with grass pollen continuing to dominate and weed pollen also contributing to high overall levels in many areas.
On Thursday, very high pollen levels are expected across much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of southern Scotland, driven by warm and largely dry conditions. Grass pollen is particularly high, with weed pollen also elevated. Further north, including Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands, levels remain low due to cooler, fresher conditions.
Friday will see high to very high pollen levels continue across most regions, although there is a slight reduction in some northern areas compared to Thursday. Scotland and Northern Ireland see a general easing to moderate or high levels, while England and Wales remain widely very high, especially in central and eastern areas.
Pollen levels remain elevated across much of the UK at the start of the weekend. England and Wales continue to see high or very high levels, with some central and eastern areas still experiencing very high grass pollen. Scotland sees a mixed picture, with low levels persisting in the far north and moderate to high levels further south.
A gradual improvement begins on Sunday, particularly in western and northern areas, where levels ease to moderate or high. However, across much of England and Wales, pollen levels remain high, with only a slight reduction from previous days.
Pollen levels remain generally high across most of the UK to start the new week, although there are some regional variations. Southern and eastern areas are likely to continue seeing high or very high levels of grass pollen, while northern regions experience more moderate conditions. Cooler, more changeable weather will help limit further increases.
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.
