Sunny weather to heat UK up to 22C today – but bad news for hay fever sufferers
The UK is set for more sunshine this weekend, with the Met Office saying some areas could get close to the warmest day of the year so far.
But hayfever sufferers should grab their antihistamines along with their shades amid warnings of very high pollen levels today.
London is forecast to bask in warm and sunny weather as high as 22°C.
But in less than ideal news for people who suffer with hayfever, the balmy weather could be made miserable by itchy eyes and fits of sneezing.
The Met Office predicts the South East, Midlands, Yorkshire and North East of England will also see temperatures of 20°C by mid afternoon.
Reading, Cambridge, Nottingham, York, Newcastle and Darlington are among the towns and cities basking in the twenties today.
The North West, and areas of Wales and Scotland are all expected to see temperatures in the mid to upper teens.
The hottest day of the year so far was on April 4 with a high of 23.7C in Otterbourne, Hampshire.
High temperatures will last well into the evening. London will enjoy 20°C or higher until at least 8pm.
Every area of England and Wales faces a ‘very high’ pollen count, potentially triggering significant irritation and inflammation in people who are allergic to it.
Northern Ireland and most of Scotland will also see a ‘high’ pollen count, while the Highlands, Orkney and the Shetland Islands can expect only ‘medium’ pollen levels.
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But the UK rain will still hit some areas despite the sunny weather.
The westerly Welsh and Scottish coasts, and parts of Cornwall and Devon, are expected to see rainfall.
Everything you need to know about pollen and hayfever
Pollen is an extremely fine power which is released by plants and trees as part of their reproductive cycle.
In those allergic to pollen, it triggers the antibody immunoglobulin E.
This creates mucus and leads to symptoms such as congestion and sneezing.
Hay fever is the most common name for pollen allergy.
It is most commonly caused by grass pollens, although other pollens can also cause problems.
1 in 5 people in the UK suffer with hay fever, according to the Met Office.
You are more likely to be at risk if you have a family history of allergies, or if you suffer from asthma or eczema.
Cities often have lower pollen counts than the countryside, but pollen can combine with air pollution in urban areas to encourage hay fever symptoms.
Alcohol also worsens the effect of pollen.
That is because beer, wine and other spirits contain histamine, which is the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in the body.
Cats and dogs can also get hay fever, with symptoms including licking or biting their paws or being tired or lethargic.
The Met Office’s forecast for today and this evening reads: ‘Eastern areas holding on to the most prolonged periods of sunshine, whilst cloud builds from the west in association with showers and longer spells of rain, perhaps thundery.
‘Warm for many, but less so than recent days in the west.
‘Turning cloudier and more unsettled with outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards.
‘Some heavier bursts of rain at times. Milder than the previous night in the southeast, cooler in the northwest.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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