The ‘red alert’ issued for this week coincides with an increase in temperatures (file image) (Image: Getty)
A so-called ‘red alert’ for hay fever has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of England. The forecaster is warning of very high levels of tree pollen for much of the country over the next five days, coinciding with a climb in temperatures.
Southern England and the Midlands are set to be most affected, with a very high pollen count predicted every day up to Friday. The only exception is Thursday when the south-west is expected to see high conditions. Very high birch pollen — the main type which affects tree-pollen sufferers — is expected, as well as high levels of ash pollen.
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Hay fever can cause symptoms including sneezing and itchy eyes (Image: Getty)
Hay fever can cause unpleasant symptoms including itchy eyes and an irritated throat.
Around 10 million people in England suffer from hay fever, according to The Telegraph.
Tree pollen is responsible for about a quarter of all hay fever cases.
Hay fever sufferers in other parts of England and the UK could also be affected by the pollen surge.
All of England and Wales is set to see a very high pollen count on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pollen levels will otherwise be high in Wales for the other weekdays, according to the Met Office’s 5-day forecast.
The pollen count in northern England will largely be in the high category during the period.
Hay fever sufferers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to be less affected, with lower pollen counts largely ranging between low and medium.
However, all of Northern Ireland and most of Scotland will see high pollen levels on Tuesday.
Allergy UK recommends hay fever sufferers limit outdoor activities during days where the pollen count is high.
The charity also encourages other steps such as keeping home windows shut and avoiding drying clothes outside.
The pollen rise comes as forecasters said the warmest temperature of the year so far could be set three times this week.
Parts of the UK could enjoy highs of 21C or 22C on Tuesday, with temperatures rising again on Wednesday, climbing as high as 24C in south-east England, before the weather cools off towards the end of the week.
The warmer spell comes in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend as 70mph winds battered parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “As Storm Dave has now moved away, and this high pressure is building behind it, we’re now dragging up warmer air from the continent.
“It’s one of the seasons where it can change really quickly, day on day.”
The Met Office warned of another “big change” on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to between 10C and 13C.
“It’s all purely down to wind direction at this time of year,” the spokesperson said.
“For the next couple of days, we’re dragging in that warm, southerly wind, which will allow us to see temperatures reach the mid-20s.
“As we go into Thursday, we’ll see temperatures return to normal for the time of year as we see the weather turn more changeable with advances of rain and showers.”