A sudden shift to warm spring temperatures in Norway has triggered a rapid release of stored pollen, worsening allergy symptoms and driving a sharp rise in sales of allergy medicines.
Extreme pollen spread in Eastern Norway is causing significant discomfort for allergy sufferers due to a combination of a long winter, delayed spring, and sudden warm, dry weather.
Warm temperatures are causing birch buds to burst, sending large amounts of pollen in the air. In Chuathbaluk, there was so much pollen, it was visible as a tornado.
According to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, pollen levels are considerably above the average for this time of year, causing considerable irritation for those with pollen allergies.
As many allergy-sufferers across Finland may have already suspected, birch pollen levels were very high on Wednesday, according to the University of Turku.
Spiking levels of birch pollen around much of the state are also being seen during an early spring in Anchorage this week, as doctors deal with an influx of allergy and asthma patients.
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