Allergy Season in Alabama: Everything You Need to Know (2023)

Winters in Alabama tend to be mild, which makes it easy for plant life to thrive throughout the year. Unfortunately, this also means that the region has a long pollen season, which can spell trouble for anyone with seasonal allergies.

As with most things that can affect your health, it pays to know everything you can about Alabama’s allergy season if you want to enjoy the state’s mild winters. As always, we recommend scheduling an appointment with us if you have any serious concerns about your allergies, but let’s go over some of the basics about Alabama’s lengthy allergy season.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies refer to allergies that are triggered by pollen, particularly pollen released by grasses, trees, and weeds. Plants that can trigger allergens in Alabama include:

• Timothy Grass
• Johnson Grass
• Bermuda Grass
• Russian Thistle
• Ragweed
• Juniper Trees
• Maple Trees
• Olive Trees

When is Allergy Season in Alabama?

Each plant releases pollen at different times of the year, so it can be difficult to determine when your own allergies will be at their worst. Generally speaking, pollen counts in Alabama are at their highest in April, May, June, and September. If you struggle with seasonal allergies, it’s best to limit your time outdoors or only go out in the evening during these months.

Alabama’s allergy season usually ends in November, but that doesn’t mean your symptoms will go away. Your allergies to pollen might lessen during the winter, but allergies to dust, pet dander, mold, and other indoor allergens could get worse if you spend more time than usual indoors.

Common Allergy Symptoms

Your allergy symptoms will depend on the severity of your allergies, but common symptoms include:

• A stuffy nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Uncontrollable sneezing
• Brain fog
• Sinus pain
• Post-nasal drip
• Rash or hives
• Increased asthma symptoms

Preparing for Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies can be troublesome in the best circumstances, but there are things you can do to lessen your symptoms. First of all, keep a close eye on pollen counts during the allergy season. Weather reports sometimes include pollen counts if they are particularly high, but resources such as weather apps and the Allergy & Asthma Network
are often better if you want more detailed information. If pollen counts are particularly high or you find that your symptoms are worse than usual, limit your time outdoors as much as possible. Go inside, keep your doors and windows closed, and take advantage of your HVAC system. As long as you keep your HVAC filter clean and you have a functioning air filter, you should be free of the worst of your allergy symptoms.

Next, come up with a plan to manage your symptoms when they arise. Over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines and eye drops can be effective, but you might want to speak with your doctor about other treatment options if your symptoms are particularly severe.

Finally, if you want to know what your specific allergy triggers are, you can always speak with an allergy doctor about taking an allergy test. If you know what triggers your allergies, you can do your best to avoid it.