GREENFIELD, Wis. — May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
Spectrum News 1 checked in with Dr. Gary Steven, who runs the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center in Greenfield. He tracks the pollen counts from the roof of his office.
Wisconsin is currently in tree pollen season, which typically runs from about mid-March through the end of May, Dr. Steven said.
The pollen and mold is collected on a slide that sits in an instrument called a Burkard Spore Trap. A thin layer of grease is added to the slide so the pollen hits it and sticks. Every morning the slide is then taken to the pollen counter where it is stained, looked at under a microscope and is then counted.
You can read their weekday pollen count at https://myaasc.com/pollen.
The weather plays a big role in our pollen count.
“The wind is a big factor," Dr. Steven said. "Temperature is also a big factor during the season when trees are actively pollinating and rainy days are always good days for allergies.”
Grass pollen will start in Wisconsin at the end of May and then we get a slight break from the pollen in July before ragweed pollen starts in August.