Due to climate change, allergy season is starting earlier and lasts longer.
PORTLAND, Ore. — If you’ve started sneezing, wiping your itchy eyes and blowing your nose already, you’re not alone: Doctors say it may be early, but allergy season is here in Portland.
Dr. Mark Chan, an allergy and immunology specialist from for Kaiser Permanente, said allergy season is starting earlier than usual.
“Definitely, global warming has made an impact in many parts of the country,” he said.
Climate change is causing allergy season to not only start earlier but to also last longer. It’s part of a pattern that determines when spring comes along.
“In our part of the Northwest, it hasn’t felt as obvious as some other parts of the country, but certainly, there are years where our winters are not as harsh, and spring will sneak in, and plants will say it’s time to get going,” Chen explained.
That’s creating a problem …