Cedar fever, ragweed and mold seasons

Ashe juniper trees blow in the wind at Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park in Austin during a period of high cedar pollen thisyear.

Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Austin is known for its winter cedar fever season, but every season there is some kind of allergen blowing in our wind. Our eyes are itchy, our throats are scratchy, our nose is runny, our head is pounding with congestion. We curse every tree and plant with pollen. 

Is there ever not allergies in Austin? 

Mold and indoor allergies are around any time of the year. The outdoor tree allergens take a small break in June before grasses and weed allergies take over in summer and fall. Then in fall, trees come back with a small break in November before ramping up again for cedar fever season in December.

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How long does each allergy season last?

Tree pollens: Each of these pollens have general months when the trees are trying to spread pollen to make new trees. These seasons can vary depending on the amount of rain Austin has had and when that rain fell. Dry, windy days are the worst for tree pollen. A good freeze or rain helps reduce the pollen in the air.

Cedar fever: December through mid-February with a peak in January.

Elm and ash tree pollen: February and March, with a peak in late February early March. Just as cedar fever is calming down, the elm and ash trees get busy spreading their pollens. 

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Oak tree pollen: Mid-February through mid-May, with a peak in late March and early April. Oak pollen is the tree pollen that lingers in spring the longest. 

Pecan pollen: April and May, with a peak at the end of April. Pecan is the last gasp of tree pollen before fall. The summer heat wipes out the tree pollen for a while. The trees are just trying to make it through the dry days of summer and don’t have the energy or desire to make pollen.

Fall elm pollen: July through September. Did you enjoy your break from tree pollen in June? It returns with elm and then oak before heading straight into cedar fever season. 

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Fall oak pollen: August through November, with a peak around Labor Day. For people with this allergy, those windy fall days at outdoor festivals can be the worst.

Austin allergies are spread out through the year but mold, ragweed and fall elm will be showing up on the allergy count this fall. 

Roberto Villalpando

Grasses and weeds: These ground covers take over the allergy counts in summer and fall, especially in years when there has been rain. Wind, your body or a dog is needed to spread the pollen. 

Grasses: March through September. These have the longest allergy season of any of the cyclical allergens. These allergens typically peak in early June. If you struggle with grass pollen, mowing the lawn or being around fresh-cut grass might not be a good idea.

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Pigweed and marsh elder: Late August to early November. You can buy seeds and plants of these bushy weeds for your garden, but why would you, if you have an allergy?

Ragweed: Late August through October, with a peak at the end of September and beginning of October. For many people, ragweed is worse than cedar fever or oak. The pollen counts tend to soar before they go down. 

Ragweed can be problematic in fall as that weed tries to pollinate to make more weed. 

Austin 360

Mold: Anytime of the year. We’ve got the kind of mold that springs up outside when it rains. We’ve got the kind of mold that springs up outside when it’s dry. We’ve got indoor molds, too. Mold shows up on the allergen counts most days of the year, though it does dip around December just as cedar is ramping up.

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Dogs, cats and dust mites: These indoor allergens show up any time of the year when you are around the allergens.

Saharan dust: June through August. In the summer months, the dust from the Sahara Desert gets lifted and makes its way to Austin. Our skies will turn hazy with all the dust particles in the air. 

Related: What is going around Austin right now?

How do you know if you have allergies?

Typically allergies have an “itch” factor: itchy, watery eyes; itchy, scratchy throat; itchy, runny nose; and a cough or congestion from the nasal drainage. You also can get headaches, but rarely fevers unless you have a sinus or ear infection that settled in while your body was trying to fight the allergen. 

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Allergy testing can help narrow down your personal allergens. Other testing for diseases can help find another cause for your suffering. It is possible to have both a virus or bacterial infection and allergies.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them: 

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Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start.
Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication. 
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray. 
Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly. 
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly. 
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air. 
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen. 

Sources: AccuWeather, AustinPollen.com, Austin Regional Clinic, Aspire Allergy and Sinus, Austin Family Allergy & Asthma