Late flowering culprit of delayed allergy season

Allergy season is in full swing and the late start to spring has some feeling worse than previous years. CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa explains.

While Edmonton has seen a bit of a late spring with the last snow fall blanketing the city in mid-April, allergy season has also been delayed.

Janice Cooke, professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta, said cooler-than-normal temperatures tend to postpone flowering and bud burst.

“All across the region, we have seen some significant delays in the leaves coming out on the trees, and also flower and cone development,” said Cooke in an email to CTV News Edmonton.

“Once we start to see more seasonal temperatures, the pollen will start to fly.”

According to pharmacist Mohamed Elfishawi, people are coming in with more severe allergy symptoms than experienced in recent years.

“This year, it actually hit us really, really soon, and there are so many people complaining way more than in previous years,” said Elfshawi.

Allergies are an immune response to the pollen around us, he explained, adding that the best way to treat symptoms is to visit your doctor or pharmacist to determine what medication is best for you, whether it be prescribed or over-the-counter.

“The good thing about Alberta is that there are so many pharmacists that can prescribe right now,” said Elfshawi.

Pharmacists can also refer patients to an allergy clinic, where they can get tested for certain allergens and discuss allergy shots as a form of treatment.

Although allergy season is in full swing, Cooke says last year’s average rainfall amounts helped provide a normal level of cone and flower development, which in turn should result in less pollen circulating.

“It’s always important to keep in mind that this year’s flower and cone crop was mainly initiated last year, so last year’s weather impacts how many flowers and cones we will see this year.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa