Hay fever sufferers warned to brace for extreme pollen later this week

Melburnians are being warned to brace for shocking hay fever later this week.

While grass pollen levels are currently high, they’re expected to reach extreme levels on Wednesday.

“50+ (grains of grass pollen per cubic metre of air) is our prediction for today, and on Wednesday we’d see that number double,” hay fever expert and Melbourne Pollen Count researcher Edwin Lampugnani told Neil Mitchell.

“We’re correlating grass pollen counts with people’s symptoms and we are finding a correlation, so the more grass pollen that’s in the air, the worst people generally feel.”

With the hay fever season beginning late this year, Mr Lampugnani says those who suffer from it may have symptoms through to the end of the year.

“We’re very hopeful that by Christmas grass pollen levels will decrease … but given the very late start to the season it will be difficult to tell. We’ll have to wait and see,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear the hay fever outlook