Met Office issues hay fever alert for people in these areas

Pollen levels are rising just a week after the spring equinox, according to a Met Office report.

Tree pollen levels are expected to be moderate to high in some southern parts of England and Wales over the coming days.

According to the forecaster, hay fever sufferers may begin to experience more symptoms than usual over the next five days as pollen counts increase and tree pollen affects around a quarter of people.

High ash pollen levels were seen in London and the south-east of England on Saturday, while moderate levels were seen in the south-west.

Both regions will see high ash pollen counts from Monday, with levels also rising in the Midlands. Wales, midlands and the east of England will see moderate pollen levels, while counts will remain low across the rest of the UK.

On Tuesday Grampian will see moderate pollen levels, while the rest of Scotland and the north of England will see relatively low pollen counts.

Pollen levels will remain high across central, east, south-east and south-west England on Wednesday, with Wales seeing only moderate levels.

Birch pollen season will also start soon, the forecaster warned. Birch pollen appears between March and June, peaks between April and May, and can cause asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis (irritation of the eyes, nose, and sinuses).

It is estimated that around 10 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever. Symptoms usually appear when the pollen count, a measure of the number of pollen grains in a cubic meter of air, exceeds 50.

Weather conditions affect how much pollen is released and spread around, according to the Met Office, which states that pollen is more common on humid and windy days.

Temperatures look set to remain steady above 10C across much of the country next week, according to the forecaster, who predicts bright weather in parts of the country. On Tuesday, temperatures across much of the UK will enter the mid-teens with bright conditions and some cloud.

Met Office five-day forecast

Tonight and tonight:

Daytime showers are greatly easing this evening and most places are starting to dry out with clear skies. Later, clouds and rain will fall in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s starting to get colder with widespread light frost.

Sunday:

There will be a cool and bright start in the southeast, but already in the northwest clouds and rain will spread throughout the country. Brighter but showery conditions follow, but the storm continues.

Outlook from Monday to Wednesday:

Cool but drier weather continues on Monday. It’s warmer on Tuesday, with bright skies but also some rain in the west. Rain will continue in the northwest on Wednesday, but there is some brightness elsewhere.