Overview
- University and commercial trackers report tree pollen jumping to very high levels over the past 10 days, with alder singled out as a major driver.
- Temperatures reached 18.6C at Kew Gardens on Wednesday, and light breezes helped disperse pollen after the prolonged damp spell.
- Experts say milder winters linked to climate change are bringing earlier, faster-rising pollen seasons and could lengthen them.
- Forecasters expect a short-lived dip in counts as rain returns, but the strength of the wider 2026 season remains uncertain and could intensify if mild conditions persist.
- Health bodies advise limiting outdoor exposure on high-count days and using treatments such as antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays, with pharmacists and GPs on hand to help.