What the pollen count is today and latest map and forecast from the Met Office (2024)

As warmer spring weather arrives in the UK, pollen season is now in full swing, much to the displeasure of hay fever sufferers.

Typically tree pollen first occurs from late March to mid-May, while grass pollen tends to last from mid-May until July. Most people are allergic to grass pollen, but many people with hay fever are already feeling the effects of the allergy this year.

The Met Office releases a daily pollen count, which details pollen levels across the country. Here’s the latest count, and everything else you need to know.

What does the pollen count mean?

The Met Office explains: “The ‘pollen count’ is literally the amount of pollen per cubic metre observed over 24 hours. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term ‘pollen forecast’ but the pollen count is used, along with what the weather is up to, to forecast pollen levels over the coming days. The ‘forecast’ is actually a forecast of the risk of the level of pollen over the coming days.”

The forecaster measures pollen levels using a number of monitoring sites across the UK between March and September. Most sites have been in operation since the 60s, and they form part of a much bigger European Aeroallergen Network based in Vienna.

Pollen is physically collected using a Burkard trap. Inside the trap is a spindle with sticky paper wrapped around it. This rotates slowly and air is drawn through a slit in the casing surrounding the spindle. As air flows through the trap pollen particles are left on the paper and can then be counted.

“Traps are usually placed on roofs in order to sample air that has been well mixed up,” the Met Office says. “Too close to the ground and you’ll get all sorts of pollutants and bits of dust; too high and you’ll only collect tree pollen. The paper is removed and the pollen particles are counted using a microscope.”

Hay fever symptoms usually appear when the pollen count exceeds 50. For grass pollen, a reading between 50 and 150 grains of grass pollen per cubic metre is considered high, while for tree pollen, between 81 and 200 is high.

What is today’s pollen count?

Pollen levels are high across the country today. The vast majority of the UK has an orange “high” reading, with red “very high” readings in the south-west and north-west England, and Wales.

The only areas with lower readings are north-eastern Scotland.

Pollen levels will dip slightly into the weekend, with yellow “medium” readings across England and “high” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

On Saturday the pollen count will be “medium” for the majority of the country, though readings will be higher in the East Midlands and eastern England.

Grass pollen season normally lasts from mid-May until July, however this can vary dependent on where you live, and there are normally two separate peaks.

The Met Office says: “Dependent upon where you live in the UK, the hay fever season will start at different times. For example, there’s a later start and shorter season in the north of the UK, where generally there is less pollen. Urban areas have lower counts than the countryside, and places inland have higher counts than around the coast.

“If we look at grass pollen, the peak across England and Wales, for example, usually starts in the first two weeks of June. There are two peaks though, with the second, lower peak occurring in the first two weeks of July, after which things tail off slowly.”

Weed pollen can be released at any time but the season typically covers the end of June to September.

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergy caused by pollen grains. According to Allergy UK, hay fever affects between 10 and 30 per cent of all adults in the UK.

The NHS says hay fever symptoms include:

• sneezing and coughing;
• runny or blocked nose;
• itchy, red or watery eyes;
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears;
• loss of smell;
• pain around your temples and forehead;
• headache;
• earache;
• feeling tired.

Most people with hay fever are allergic to grass pollen, though some are also affected by weed and tree pollen.

There is no cure for hay fever, but there are a number of over the counter medicines you can take to help alleviate symptoms, such as antihistamine tablets, sprays and eye drops. Speak to your pharmacist to find the right treatment for you.

Other tips include closing your windows, showing regularly and washing your clothes to remove any pollen from them.

Pollen levels tend to be especially high in the evening, so consider using a fan rather than opening your windows in the evening to help with sleep.

Try to avoid grass as much as possible, particularly cut grass.