The tree pollen season is always more brutal when spring comes late. The reason is that normally, some tree species tend to pollinate early in spring, some in the middle, and others more toward the end of spring. But trees won’t pollinate until it’s warm enough; if it isn’t warm enough for the early pollinators to pollinate, they wait. Then, if it’s STILL not warm enough for the middle pollinators to pollinate, they wait too. Then, when it FINALLY warms up in late spring, all of the tree species pollinate at the same time. That’s why the tree pollen season is so severe when spring comes late, but the silver lining is that it doesn’t last as long. Trees are typically done pollinating by early June, when the grasses start to pollinate.

Yesterday, the tree pollen count of 5647 grains per cubic meter of air was the highest recorded in Milwaukee county since counting began in 1995. Previously, the record high count was 4756 on May 14, 2013. Last night’s northeasterly winds off Lake Michigan helped to drop our tree pollen count today to 1408, so those who viewed our story last night on TMJ4 about thunder fever can rest a little easier, as the lower pollen counts make it even less likely when the thunderstorms hit our area tonight.