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You’re not crazy. Allergy season is getting worse.
New research shows that pollen season is getting longer and more intense. But why?
- Spring allergy season, triggered by tree pollen, is underway in Michigan and across the U.S.
- Common allergy triggers in Michigan include trees like ash, oak, and hickory, as well as certain flowers, grasses, and molds.
- Allergy symptoms range from sneezing and itchy eyes to more severe reactions like difficulty breathing.
As flowers bloom and trees bud across Michigan, some residents may be dreading the start of allergy season.
“Spring-like weather has arrived, and with it, the start of the extended allergy season across the United States, which will last throughout the summer,” AccuWeather said. “And it could be a bad year for millions from the mid-Atlantic to the Pacific Northwest.”
Allergies are triggered in waves as plants bloom at different times, and the intensity of allergy season varies statewide. Pollen released by plants causes a reaction that can include coughing, sneezing, wheezing and other health problems.
Wichita, Kansas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are are the top three “allergy capitals” for 2025, according to a study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Grand Rapids was 72nd while Detroit was 86th.
Researchers don’t consider Michigan to be a major allergy state because winter stops pollen circulation, unlike southern states.
As plants continue to sprout to life in Michigan, here is more on allergies and why you keep sneezing:
What are the main causes of allergies in Michigan?
Sources for seasonal allergies in Michigan are shared nationally, including pollen from trees, grass, weeds and even mold.
The main cause of allergies in early spring in Michigan are trees.
Currently it is tree-allergy season, Wyndly said — an allergy-centered health care company — and Michigan’s hickory, ash, oak, walnut, cedar, willow, and mulberry trees are the main culprits.
When is allergy season in Michigan?
In general, the spring allergy season lasts from late March to June, then summer allergy season lasts from June to August (more from grass pollen, than tree pollen).
Allermi — a personalized allergy care company — distinguishes the allergy periods by region in Michigan:
- Southern Michigan: tree pollen starts in late March or early April, peaking in April and May. Grass pollen follows from late May to mid-July, with its peak in June. Ragweed, the main source of weed pollen, is most active from late August through early October.
- Central Michigan: tree pollen starts in early to mid-April, and peaks in May. Grass pollen activity occurs from late May to early July, peaking in mid to late June, while weed pollen peaks from late August to early October.
- Northern Michigan: tree pollen begins in late April and peaks in May or early June. Grass pollen is active from early June through mid-July, and weed pollen peaks from early September to mid-October, with the season ending earlier due to frost.
What is pollen?
Pollen is a fine to coarse powdery substance produced by plants during their reproduction process, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science said.
Pollen is the tiny egg-shaped male cells of flowering plants, including trees, grasses, and weeds, John Hopkins Medicine said.
Pollen is vital for Earth’s vegetation and the life of its pollinators such as bees, birds, bats, butterflies, moths and beetles.
What flowers and trees trigger allergies in Michigan?
According to Lakeshore Ear, Nose & Throat Center in Detroit, here’s a list of Michigan’s most effective producers of pollen during the allergy seasons:
- Trees: Ash, oak, hickory, poplar, and walnut are perhaps the busiest producers.
- Flowers: Watch out for chamomile, chrysanthemums, daisies, and goldenrod as the worst offenders.
- Grasses: Ryes and fescues tend to be the biggest pollen producers commonly grown in Michigan. Kentucky blue grass and Bermuda grass also produce pollen.
- Molds: Molds are always present, indoors and outside, but the moist warmth of spring triggers heavy spore production.
Are all allergies from pollen?
Mold is created from the damp conditions of melting snow, flooding rivers, and April showers.
Mold releases spores as part of its reproductive process which can compound on residents’ allergies, Lakeshore Center said.
How can I track pollen count levels in Michigan?
If you suffer from allergies, there are pollen forecasts available for residents to determine whether or not they should spend a day indoors or not.
Pollen.com provides national, state and local pollen count forecast on a daily basis.
Pollen counts for cities scattered around Michigan for April 22:
- Detroit: 11.5 (high)
- Grand Rapids: 11.3 (high)
- Gaylord: 10.6 (high)
- Traverse City: 10.6 (high)
- Lansing: 10.4 (high)
- Coldwater: 10.4 (high)
- Alpena: 10.1 (high)
- Sault Ste. Marie: 10.1 (high)
- Marquette: 9.4 (high)
- Ironwood: 8.4 (medium-high)
- Houghton: 8.4 (medium-high)
Other websites such as The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, IQAir, Kleenex and the U.S. Air Quality Index provide detailed forecasts.
Allergies signs and symptoms
The headaches or sneezing caused by pollen, is your immune system’s overreaction to such foreign substances, the Cleveland Clinic said, when you inhale, eat or touch.
The overreaction can cause your body to present a wide range of symptoms, including:
Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of allergies and want to get to the bottom of what’s causing them. You may be referred to an allergist or dermatologist for further tests.
What can i do about allergies?
The Mayo Clinic says histamines produced by the body cause the allergy reactions.
- The common treatment is to take an anti-histamine drug in one of many forms, including pills, liquids, inhalers, nasal sprays, eye drops, skin creams and shots, also called injections. Side effects of antihistamine nasal sprays might include a bitter taste and feeling very sleepy.
- Corticosteroids suppress inflammation caused by allergies and relieves symptoms, the Mayo Clinic said.
- Mast cell stabilizers block the release of chemicals in the immune system that lead to allergic reactions. These medicines are often safe but need to be used for several days to produce the full effect. Mast cell stabilizers are used when antihistamines are not working or well tolerated.
- Immunotherapy is meant to train the body’s immune system not to react to certain allergens. This treatment might protect broadly against allergens that are hard to avoid such as pollens, dust mites and molds. Biologic medicines make changes to the body’s immune system to treat allergic conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, hives and food allergy.
- Decongestants are used for quick, temporary relief of nasal and sinus congestion.
- A leukotriene inhibitor blocks chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. These chemicals are called leukotrienes. This oral medicine relieves asthma and hay fever and is available by prescription only. Side effects of leukotriene inhibitors include anxiety, depression, strange dreams, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thinking or behavior.
- Epinephrine shots are used to treat a sudden, life-threatening allergic reaction, also called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include swelling in the throat and difficulty breathing.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsjcom
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