Fall Allergy Season Already Flaring Up -- And It's A Doozy

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The sniffing, sneezing and itchy eyes. Fall allergy season is flaring up, and it's just the beginning. Allergy and asthma specialists say the pollen counts are high in our area.

They're expected to rise over the next few days, too.

Our weather isn't helping ease the suffering. In fact, it's making it worse.

The pollen that is the main culprit in contributing to our sniffling and sneezing is ragweed.

So if you've noticed an increase in your tissue usage this past weekend, it's because ragweed season is here.

It typically starts around Aug. 15 and runs through the end of September.

"I feel that most ragweed seasons are about the same as far as severity, they may vary a little in length and ... if we have windy days it will be worse, the rain will cut it down and of course we haven't had rain in quite a long time," said Dr. Scott Nicholas, of Eisenstadt Allergy & Asthma.

To help ease allergy symptoms, Dr. Nicholas says:

-- Keep your windows closed at home -- use the AC instead.

-- Avoid outdoor exercise in the morning, when ragweed pollen levels are highest.

-- Limit time outside on hot and windy days. Heat causes more blooming of the ragweed. And wind of course, blows the pollen around.

A good rain can provide relief and there is rain in the forecast. We could see some showers on Wednesday but then, the humidity will ramp up in a big way.