Why are allergies so bad in Cincinnati, rest of Ohio? What to know

Jan 13, 2024

Ohioans were able to enjoy warm temperatures and sunny skies this Memorial Day, but when it came to allergies, residents appear to have fallen victim to a perfect storm.

Experts say that grass, trees and mold teamed up to force locals into a sneezing frenzy this holiday weekend — and this week's seasonal allergy forecast isn't looking any better.

If you're experiencing significant allergies and want to know why — and for how much longer — here's what you need to know.

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Tree pollen is making a late-season run, thanks to the recent warm weather. Heat enables the allergen to thrive, according to Dr. Donald McNeil, an OhioHealth allergy specialist.

"Tree pollen is not so common when it's cold and rainy," McNeil said. "But as soon as it gets to be warm, sunny days like we've had over the past weekend, you can bet there will be lots of people with symptoms."

The tree pollen season typically starts in April and wraps up around the end of May, though weather can alter that timeline.

Weather can also lead some parts of the season to be particularly harsh on those with allergies, according to Dr. Jennifer Bullock, owner of Bullock Allergy and Asthma. Trees accumulate a pollen buildup during colder stretches, and then release the buildups when temperatures start to rise.

"The trees kind of hunker down, and then all of the pollen shoots off in May," she said.

Grass shoots pollen into the air in mid-May, whether the trees have called it a spring already or not. So this year, grass and trees have formed a one-two punch in the May weather.

"The grass season is in full blast right now," McNeil said.

Grass pollen is most potent in the air during early summertime.

"Generally, when we get to Memorial Day weekend, (allergies are) pretty bad for people, because everything's pollenating at the same time," Bullock said.

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This year, a third party has crashed the pollen party.

Mold season is long, starting in the spring and lasting into the fall. Although a variety of outdoor molds can cause allergies, the alternaria species is the main culprit, and it is most potent in warm weather.

"As soon as it gets hot and humid, that alternaria just loves that weather," Bullock said.

In weather conditions like last weekend's, alternaria and its mold cousins can be quite prevalent. Mold spore counts are sometimes 10 times higher than pollen counts, Bullock said.

Don't count on it.

With sunny skies and temperatures reaching into the 90s projected in Cincinnati through the upcoming weekend, it would be fair to figure that the three-headed allergen monster will put together more strong showings in coming days.

"That would be a safe bet," McNeil said.

According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures for the rest of the week are as follows for the Cincinnati area: 89 degrees Thursday, 92 degrees Friday, 93 degrees Saturday and 88 degrees Sunday.

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If you're an allergy sufferer in Ohio, there are steps you can take to reduce your symptoms, including knowing your seasonal triggers, wearing sunglasses and a hat when outside, and washing your hands and face frequently.

Dr. Monica Kraft, clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, recommends using nose sprays with an intra-nasal steroid every day, which can be used in combination with long-acting allergy pills or eyedrops.

But if medications aren't cutting it, she recommends making an appointment with an allergist who could administer something stronger, like allergy shots.

Aside from medication, showering after being outdoors and keeping windows closed can limit exposure.

Dr. Chris Brooks, an assistant professor and allergy and immunology physician at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, also suggests oral and nasal antihistamine medications and nasal irrigation devices.

"They can either use different devices to basically wash out their nose and their sinuses with things like distilled water or boiled water that has been cooled to room temperature," he said. "And that can clean out different pollens and debris."

USA Today and Dispatch reporter Taijuan Moorman contributed to this story.

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@JackNimesheim