With its subtropical climate and lush vegetation, the sultry Southeast offers travelers with allergies a number of trigger-avoidance challenges. However, if holiday visits to family and friends are bringing you to the Southeast, rejoice. Late fall (November and December) may be the only time you can successfully avoid airborne pollens. The following seasonal guidelines can help you plan your vacation to avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger allergies in this region of the country.

Spring

Abundance is the key term when describing spring in the Southeast. March and April are the peak pollinating months for a wide range of native trees. Particularly allergenic are pecan, ash, and sweet gum trees, while palm and dogwood are less likely to trigger your allergies. Grasses also release airborne pollens throughout April and May. The warm, humid air creates an ideal environment for mold growth and encourages a dust mite population explosion.

Summer

The hot, moist summer days are perfect for pollinating grasses, and miserable for those allergic to them. Ragweed pollen is rampant throughout the summer, with peak pollination occurring in August and September. Most grass pollen levels crest either in June or August, leaving the month of July a bit more comfortable than the rest of the season. A few grasses in Louisiana and Arkansas, including bahia and fescue, continue to pollinate into September. Summer humidity encourages mold and dust mite growth.

Fall

The relatively warm southeastern autumn promotes ragweed pollination throughout September and into October. In the southernmost regions (especially Florida and Louisiana) Bermuda grass is still releasing pollen throughout November, stopping only when December rolls around.

Winter

November and December offer a brief respite from airborne pollen (although mold and dust mites continue to flourish throughout the winter months). In the Southeast, the warming late winter months (January, February, and March) bring a flurry of new pollen releases from the budding black gum, hickory, and dogwood trees.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 10:19 am and is filed under Seasonal & Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.