A high pollen count mixed with mid-August thunderstorms could trigger a weather phenomenon known as “thunder fever” this week, causing problems for allergy sufferers, forecasters have warned.
Thunder hayfever is triggered by large amounts of tiny pollen particles that are released into the air by the heavy downpours associated with thunderstorms.
The combination of extremely warm weather, strong winds and thundery downpours has prompted the Met Office to warn that many areas of Britain, beginning with Yorkshire & Humberside and Wales, face high levels of pollen this week, although the threat will remain low in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
While the grass pollen season is now well passed its peak, weed pollen is coming into its own, potentially causing fresh problems for sufferers.
The primary culprits are mugwort, sorrel and plantain, according to anti-allergy brand HayMax.
The first is a hardy perennial plant native to the UK and part of the asteraceae family, which also includes daisies, sunflowers, dandelions and ragweed.
Sheep sorrel and its subspecies, meanwhile, are common perennial weeds, also known as red sorrel, sour weed and field sorrel.
The last, English plantain, is also known as narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain, ribleaf, buckhorn plantain, buckhorn and lamb’s tongue and is a weed common to cultivated farmland.
Speaking earlier this summer about thunder fever, forecaster Jo Farrow said: “Very hot weather followed by thunder, lightning and heavy downpours can lead to severe allergic reactions.
“Well into the summer with very warm air over the UK, grass and weed pollen and also fungal spores in the air and air pollution, episodes of thunderstorm hayfever or thunderstorm asthma can occur.
“The symptoms are more extreme, and in other parts of the world, such as Australia, thunderstorms have resulted in major incidents as the atmospheric conditions came together and so many people were affected.
“Thunderstorms often appear after long, dry spells resulting in plenty of pollen about to stir up.”
In 2016, eight people died in the Australian city of Melbourne from thunderstorm asthma, after heavy rains and winds triggered thousands of pollen allergy asthma attacks.
