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Sneezing a lot today? High pollen count may be the reason
If you have been a little under the weather lately, high pollen counts may be to blame.
According to the city of Albuquerque's daily air quality report, the total pollen count for the Westside was 269 pollen grains per cubic meter of air sampled. Grass was high at 108. Juniper at 86 and ragweed at 75 were both moderate.
On the Eastside, the pollen count was only 26 pollen grains per cubic meter with grass moderate at 21 and juniper low at only 5.
The overall air quality for Albuquerque as of 9 a.m. was moderate.
Air quality updates can be found at airnow.gov.
Meteorologist Randall Hergert said drier and windier conditions can contribute to a high pollen count.
"When it is, you know, drier and windier, it can combine with the times when pollen production … is higher," Hergert said. "If we get some more rain, that can kind of absorb the pollen count … or when it's less windy too, less wind blowing around the pollen, it can lower those pollen counts."
Hergert said Albuquerque is currently in a level 3, or extreme, drought and the high is 9 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average for this time of year.
The latest drought monitor has introduced some Exceptional Drought (the highest drought category) into southern Chaves County. This is due to long term dryness and building rainfall deficits with Roswell YTD precipitation is almost 6 inches below normal! #NMwx pic.twitter.com/S2Bi5cbYgG
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) September 28, 2023
He said there is a 30% chance of rain this weekend.
