Active hayfever season likely in Victoria after warm, wet winter

Much of Victoria could experience a more active hayfever season after this year’s warm, wet winter.

Seasonal hayfever affects people who are allergic to tree and grass pollen, which are released into the air during spring.

Tree pollen season is already underway in Melbourne, with cypress trees responsible for a number of extreme ratings being issued by air-monitoring service Melbourne Pollen already this spring.

Grass pollen season starts on October 1.

Last year, there were five extreme grass pollen days and 15 high grass pollen days in Melbourne.

With [Victoria recording its wettest winter in a decade](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-29/spring-scorcher-to-follow-record-warm-winter-australia-weather/107090824) and above-average temperatures, Melbourne Pollen said the state was likely to see more extreme grass pollen days this year.

“We are seeing conditions that look more favourable to a larger year than we did last year,” said Edwin Lampugnani, the CEO of AirHealth, which runs Melbourne Pollen.

“That’s really driven by the satellite data that we’re seeing, with lots of greenness in those north-western pasture lands.”

Dr Lampugnani said western and central Victoria could be affected by the more active season, but there was better news for the east of the state.

“In the Gippsland region, we are seeing dry conditions and the prediction is that we are going to have lower amounts of rainfall in that area, and so for the Gippsland area we’re expecting a subdued pollen season,” he said.

And there is hope the El Niño weather pattern affecting Australia could lead to a shorter hayfever season.

“We’re not going to be having those wet summers,” said Cenk Suphioglu, a professor of biomedical science at Deakin University.

“Those grass, with the recurring heat, will essentially dry them up and desiccate them so … the season is short.”

**Melbourne the hayfever capital of the world**

Melbourne’s geography and climate, including the state’s wind patterns, had led to the city being dubbed the world’s hayfever capital by Professor Suphioglu’s pollen science centre, AirWatch.

Professor Suphioglu said rye grass was grown extensively for livestock feed on farmlands to the north-west of Melbourne.

He said the grass produced large amounts of pollen, which was carried on northerly winds to the city.

Residents of Melbourne’s west were the most affected, while those living to the east of Port Phillip reaped the rewards of a naturally occurring pollen filter, he said.

“As the pollen is travelling over the water, if they then suddenly settle on top of the water, it’s going to be a water filtration effect,” Professor Suphioglu said.

“If you can relocate to the [Mornington] Peninsula, or the further you go on the other side of the water … the better for you.”

Hayfever symptoms include sneezing, coughing and an itchy nose, eyes and throat.

[Medical experts have previously told the ABC](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-06/experts-weigh-in-on-common-hayfever-treatments/101507220) antihistamine tablets can help those suffering mild symptoms of hayfever, but people with more moderate cases may need a nasal spray, including a corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory spray.

Eye drops from a pharmacy can help soothe watery, itchy eyes.

Those with severe symptoms can speak to their doctor about whether they should be referred to an allergy specialist.

**A decare since world’s worst thunderstorm asthma event**

Under certain conditions, hayfever sufferers can experience respiratory distress.

“Thunderstorm asthma is a particular condition that occurs when certain types of storms, combined with very high or extreme levels of grass pollen, occur simultaneously,” Dr Lampugnani said.p

“Under those conditions, grass pollen can rupture, turn into very small particles, and those small particles can go down into your lungs and cause asthma-like symptoms.”

November 21 will be the 10th anniversary of Melbourne’s thunderstorm asthma event that killed nine people and forced thousands to seek urgent medical help.

At the end of a hot day, a severe thunderstorm swept across Melbourne and Geelong.

“The storm was followed by an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, the likes of which, in terms of size, severity and acuity, had never before been seen, nor even imagined, let alone planned for,” then-Victorian chief health officer Charles Guest said in a 2017 report.

Thousands of people developed breathing difficulties, “creating extraordinary and unparalleled demand” for the health system with a 3,000 per cent increase in asthma-related intensive care admissions, Professor Guest said.

“For many of those affected, this was their first asthma attack.”

The health department has since declared it the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event.[](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-22/what-is-thunderstorm-asthma/8044920)

Thunderstorm asthma forecasts are issued by the Department of Health and are available through the Vic Emergency app.

The daily forecasts will begin next week, coinciding with the grass pollen season.

“It’s really important that you start preparing now,” Dr Lampugnani said.

“Make sure you have an asthma action plan in place and that you’ve spoken to your GP about treating your condition.”

Mask up, fellow sufferers! Best change I made to how I handled my allergies (and I’m allergic to most anything a slight breeze can rustle off a branch, flower or animal). 

I don’t get very bad allergies, just a runny nose and sneezing, but holy shit, it’s been crazy since August. I had to stock up on claratyne again after not needing it all year.

I’ve been sneezing for the past 2 weeks. Even when the pollen count says low. We really need to work on our pollen forecast accuracy!

Had to start my nasal spray probably 4-5 weeks ago as the symptoms started flaring up.

✅ nose strips
✅ air purifier
✅ antihistamines
✅ dymista spray

😩