'It is earlier than we've been experiencing in the past': Yellow pine pollen like this is unprecedented for February
A little pollen in February isn’t uncommon, but what we saw on Tuesday is unprecedented.
The yellow coating is back on cars, sidewalks and really all surfaces in the Triangle. The yellow pollen is the dreaded pine pollen. It is typically at its peak during the first week or two of April.
I did some digging with William Schmitz over at the Southeast Regional Climate Center, and we found that the top 10 pollen counts in February have never included pine pollen. The bottom line: We have never seen the pine pollen this early in the Triangle.
What does this mean for the rest of pollen season? Well it’s tough to say, but we can go back to 2017 for a possible hint of what could be coming.
This February was the warmest on record at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
So far in February 2023, we've seen:
- 11 days where the temperature reached 70 degrees
- 2 days where the temperature got above 80 degrees, and
- an average mean temperature for the month of 53.5 degrees.
The second-warmest February was in 2017. In that year, there were:
- 13 days over 70 degrees,
- 3 days over 80 degrees and
- an average mean temperature for the month of 53.3 degrees.
2017 featured two notable pollen peaks.
Feb. 13, 2017, had the highest pollen count for a day in February at 1186 g/m3, but no pine pollen.
April 6, 2017 had a pollen count of 1981 g/m3 with pine pollen present.
But neither was a peak for the overall record books.
Because pollen this February pollen has unprecedented, it’s tough to pinpoint what the next few months will hold. The hope here is that we will see two smaller pollen peaks instead of the usual single burst of pollen in early April.
Time will tell, but enjoy the waves of rain on the way this week. They should provide some relief.
'It just means we're going to have a longer season'
Residents in the Triangle Tuesday just couldn't escape the pollen.
"This morning, I noticed it on my car. Started sneezing as soon as I got out," said Rebecca Lopez, a Raleigh resident. "That's the worst part."
And many are in agreement: It's still too early.
"It's pollen," said Amanda Boling, another Raleigh resident. "It's too early in the year for that."
Even Dr. Kelly Oten, assistant professor and extension specialist for forest health at N.C. State, recognized how historically early the pollen is.
"It is earlier than we've been experiencing it in the past," Oten said.
Oten said that if you think the early start means we're in for a quicker pollination season, think again.
"Unfortunately, that's not the case," Oten said. "It just means we're going to have a longer season, giving our trees more time to emit pollen and, unfortunately, make those allergies that much worse."
Some residents, like Ezra Nance of Raleigh, are just taking it in stride.
"It doesn't botther me," Nance said. " I think I'm one of the lucky ones."
Experts said studies show trees will likely be putting out more than 200% more pollen in the coming years. While Nance handling it better than others, the consensus in the Triangle is people weren't ready for this much pollen for even longer.
"I'm used to it, for the most part," said Maggie Beauston, who lives in Raleigh. "But not three weeks early, and not for longer."
