The shift to the spring season in Georgia has come unexpectedly and with force. While the winter season brought harsh temperatures and two country-wide snowstorms, spring temperatures in late March and early April have already hit the 70’s. Shorts and t-shirts have replaced pants and sweaters. In addition to the warm weather, massive amounts of pollen, spring’s most powerful weapon, has arrived.

        According to Healthday News, the trees bloomed early this year, which means there’s going to be an extra long pollen season, something which has already become quite noticeable. Every day, cars are covered in the yellow powder even after being washed. Pollen tends to stick on clothes and furniture, as well. Because pollen particles can be as small as 10 microns (10 millionths of a meter), they can easily pass through screen doors and slightly cracked windows.

        Many people are surprised at how fast pollen spreads. While bees are known to be the biggest pollinators, the wind can be credited as the most important mode of pollen transportation. Pollen.com says that pollen worsens when there are storms because the wind spreads the pollen around and heavy rain breaks up the particles, allowing more to be inhaled into the lungs.

        Many people, especially those living in a high pollen count state such as Georgia, suffer greatly from the pollen being in the air. According to pollen.com, approximately 35 million Americans suffer from respiratory illnesses due to pollen, and it can be said that most of the students at McIntosh have experienced some type of symptoms because of the pollen in the air during the spring. Some symptoms of allergies include coughing, runny nose and watering or swollen eyes. Pollen.com also said that pollen is highest in the morning on warm breezy days and lowest when it’s chilly and wet. Because Georgia is known to have dry, humid and warm weather, pollen tends to thrive in the state.

        This year, however, experts are estimating that the pollen count will not be as high as last year’s pollen count. According to atlantaallergy.com, last years pollen count during the month of April was extremely high, ranging from 179 grains per square meter over 24 hours on April 1 to over 8,024 grains per square meter over 24 hours on April 11. This year’s April 11 hit a pollen count of 4,054 but had dropped significantly down to 1,180 on April 15 due to the moist air from the rain.

        Earlier in late March and early April, the courtyard’s Bradford Pear trees’ flower petals fell off and were blown around, which causes the pollen to spread around in the air. This pollen seriously irritated many of the students who usually sit outside during lunch by not only sticking onto clothing and the table, but also by getting in their food and noses. Senior Micaela Nylund, a student who sits outside for lunch every chance she gets, said, “This year’s pollen was a lot more noticeable than last year’s because I started to sit outside for lunch. I realized what a nuisance it was when I couldn’t even eat my food some days. I also got a runny nose from the pollen for the first time in my life.” Evidence shows that pollen has a major impact on the lives of students and even teachers, as pollen covers their cars that they park at the school every day.