Met Office issues week-long hay fever alert as patients given important reminder

Met Office issues week-long hay fever alert as patients given important reminderMillions of hay fever patients in the UK are being given a 'red alert' by the Met Office this week as 'very high' levels of tree pollen threaten to cause allergy miseryCommentsNewsBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas News Reporter09:47, 07 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesHay fever sufferers have been given a 'red alert' this week (file photo)(Image: Getty Images)The Met Office has issued a 'red alert' for hay fever as millions face up to a week of 'very high' pollen levels.‌Spring is in the air in more ways than one this week, with balmy 24C temperatures set to descend on the nation while the evenings grow noticeably lighter. But for many of Britain's 13 million hay fever sufferers, the arrival of peak tree pollen season means runny noses, watery eyes and migraines as seasonal allergies take hold once again. This week's forecasts have now prompted new warnings for those with particularly severe symptoms to limit time spent outdoors over the next few days.‌Met Office maps show pollen levels in red at 'very high' today across all of England and Wales, along with some parts of Scotland. 'High' levels are meanwhile expected further north.‌View 3 ImagesPollen levels will be 'very high' or 'high' across the vast majority of the country today(Image: Met Office)READ MORE: Pensioner nearly drowns during charity walkREAD MORE: Greggs is launching a CHICKEN version of its sausage roll this weekIt's a similar picture throughout the week, with pollen dropping to 'low' or 'medium' in the north but remaining at 'very high' in the southeast and East Anglia into the weekend.‌Advice for 'very high' pollen days from Allergy UK includes staying indoors, keeping windows closed, and showering after being outside. High counts typically occur on warm, dry, windy days, with trigger often most s...