'The pollen is coming': How to prepare for an early, severe allergy season, from an allergist

Across the U.S., spring allergy seasons are starting earlier, lasting longer and becoming more severe — and 2026 is no exception.

In parts of the Southeast, like Georgia, allergy season has already begun: It started in late February, rather than the usual early March. Some residents in the Southwest, including Arizona and California, are also already reporting allergy symptoms. Early starts could soon hit the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest, experts say.

"At first, I thought it would not be earlier [in 2026] because of the recent blizzard we had, but [last] week, the weather said otherwise," says Dr. Purvi Parikh, a New York City-based allergist and immunologist. "I think we will see an earlier allergy season, which has been on track with [recent] previous years."

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Some of Parikh's patients have already started reporting allergy symptoms, she says. This spring's allergy season could be more severe than previous ones, she adds — a continuation from spring 2025, when people prone to pollen allergies reported stronger symptoms than normal.

"We've been seeing a general trend that [allergy] seasons have been getting more severe due to rising temperatures," Parikh says.

Global climate change has made each season in the U.S. warmer, on average — including winters, despite much of the country's recent brutally cold January and February — and lengthened agricultural growing seasons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This means more pollen production, and that can make allergy seasons more severe because "not only is there more pollen, but it's for longer periods of time too," says Parikh.

"It's kind of a double whammy ... It's not only a longer season, it's also a stronger season," she says.

Here are five of Parikh's recommendations for minimizing your symptoms during this upcoming allergy season:

1. Start taking allergy medicine early: Parikh is advising her patients to begin taking their allergy medications now, or as soon as they feel symptoms, she says. She knows other allergists who are giving similar advice, she adds. "Don't wait until you're miserable, because it's much harder for the medications to take effect if all the symptoms are already flared up," says Parikh.
2. Choose the right medication for you: 24-hour antihistamines are generally more effective for mitigating symptoms than other forms of allergy medicines, Parikh says. But if they give you side effects like headaches or drowsiness, you can alternatively try an antihistamine nasal spray or a steroid nasal spray, she says. Always consult with your doctor before taking any new medications.
3. Keep your windows closed overnight: A simple change you can make to avoid flare-ups is closing your window before going to bed, she says. Pollen counts are highest in the morning, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network.
4. Make sure you aren't spreading pollen throughout your home: "Pollen can stick to you, and then you're still inhaling it even while you're inside at home," Parikh says. To prevent this, change your clothes as soon as you get inside and shower if you can, she says.
5. Be mindful of dust mites and animal dander: Though dust mites and animal dander aren't seasonal allergens, they can make pollen allergy symptoms worse, Parikh says. If you have a pet, wash your bedding often, vacuum frequently and consider getting a HEPA air purifier, she suggests.

"Even though we had a cold and snowy winter, we're already seeing record-breaking warm temperatures" in New York, Parikh says, referring to an 80-degree day in March that technically occurred before the start of spring. "We'll see how the next few weeks develop, because these are signs that the pollen is coming."

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