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Florida faced unusually dry conditions from January to April, which worsened symptoms for UCF students with seasonal allergies.\u00a0This package aired on the May 1 newscast. The anchor is Claire Macchiarola.<\/p>\n
Emilie Gilbert
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Florida faced unusually dry conditions from January to April, which worsened symptoms for UCF students with seasonal allergies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year’s allergy season has been much worse than what we’ve seen in several years,\u201d Dr. David Braun, interim medical director of Student Health Services and assistant professor at UCF, said. \u201cOne of the main reasons is there’s been a drought in Central Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Students walk past oak trees at UCF’s main campus during spring. Oak pollen is a prevalent seasonal allergen in Florida, according to the\u00a0Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.<\/a><\/p>\n Emilie Gilbert<\/p>\n The state of Florida faced the most widespread and severe drought since 2012, according to U.S. Drought Monitor data<\/a>.<\/p>\n Braun said allergy season typically peaks in Central Florida between January and April, but the drought triggered plant pollen releases earlier. A lack of rainfall also means more allergens like pollen remain in the air longer.<\/p>\n Sabel Muro, sophomore environmental science major, is allergic to oak and ragweed pollen. She said her allergy symptoms were so bad in March that she thought she was sick.<\/p>\n \u201cMy head was congested,\u201d Muro said. \u201cI was sneezing the entire day.\u201d<\/p>\n Orlando ranks No. 33 on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Allergy Capitals 2026\u00a0list<\/a>, where pollen levels were rated worse than average.<\/p>\n \u201cAllergic symptoms are in our top 10 diagnoses for the year,\u201d Braun said. \u201cIn the springtime, we’re probably seeing 30% to 40% of our visits are somehow allergy related.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2026, the state of Florida faced the most widespread and severe drought since 2012, according to U.S. Drought Monitor data<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Courtesy of U.S. Drought Monitor<\/p>\n<\/p>\n