Less rains expected: Met Office predicts high pollen counts ahead

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted less rain this spring that may cause pollen concentration.

The Met Office said that the less rain will give impetus to rising temperature which will attain its peak around mid March.

The first rain of spring is expected in the first week of March and fewer rains will significantly increase floating pollen particles in the air, which may be alarming news for pollen allergy patients.

“Harsh winter is over and spring has set in. The day and night temperatures are gradually picking up their normal rhythm giving rise to sprouting, flowering and fruit-setting in the territorial domain of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Rain is expected in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from March 1 to March 3,” the Met Office said in its forecast.

The Met Office has also installed pollen monitoring devices in E, F, G and H sectors of Islamabad.

The pollens release from paper mulberry, pine, dandelion, acacia, eucalyptus and various kinds of grasses starts in the last week of February.

The Met Office monitors eight types of pollens including paper mulberry, pine, dandelion, cannabis, acacia, alternaria, eucalyptus and grasses. The paper mulberry is abundant among all and its concentration touches the extreme limits of about 40,000 per cubic meter in the air at the peak of blossom season. People suffering from respiratory diseases experience serious problems due to sharp increase in pollen concentrations.

The Met Office expects four spells of rain during March each spanning over two to three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2016.