Unseasonably warm weather, pollen dispersion, and some days there is a sudden increase in pollen numbers depending on the region

Warm air flowed across the country on the 14th, resulting in unseasonably high temperatures, and in many places it was as warm as early to late April.

As the unseasonably warm weather continues, it is expected that from the 15th onwards, there will be days when the amount of cedar pollen scattered will suddenly increase depending on the area.

Japan Weather Association “Tokyo and Fukuoka: There are days when scattering suddenly increases after the 15th.”

Pollen has begun to scatter in various places, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announcing that cedar pollen has started flying in the city from February 9th.

According to the Japan Weather Association, the amount of airborne particles is expected to be low nationwide on the 14th, but as the unseasonably warm weather continues and high temperatures are expected to continue, Tokyo and Fukuoka will see a drop in the amount of airborne particles from the 15th onwards. It is expected that there will be a sudden increase in the number of days.

Looking at the forecast for the amount of pollen scattered over the six days from the 15th, there are many days in Tokyo where the amount of pollen will be ``slightly high'' until Sunday the 18th, and ``high'' on the 19th and 20th.

In addition, in Fukuoka, there was a "slightly high" number on the 15th and 16th, and a "high" number on Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th.

In addition, it is expected that there will be days when the number of cases will be ``slightly high'' in parts of the Chugoku region and Shikoku.

According to the forecast as of January 18th, cedar pollen is expected to peak in late February in places such as Tokyo and Fukuoka.

On sunny and hot days, dry and windy days, the day after rain, or after two or three consecutive days of high temperatures, pollen is more likely to fly, and the first blow of spring is likely to occur. On days when winds are strong and it suddenly becomes warm, the amount of pollen scattered can increase rapidly and the peak time may come earlier, so the Japan Weather Association urges people to take measures to prevent pollen even before the peak.

Pollen: How do the people in town feel?

How do people on the streets feel? I heard this in Harajuku, Tokyo.

A man in his 50s living in Tokyo

: ``Recently, I feel like pollen is flying around a little bit.My eyes are itchy and my nose is running.''

Woman in her 40s

: ``I heard the weather forecast says it will be warm today, so I'm taking hay fever medication and wearing a mask.''

A woman in her 60s who came from Hiroshima on a trip said

, ``I've been suffering from hay fever for three years.I laughed at my husband who had it before then, but when it happens to me, it's painful.I try to prevent it by rinsing my nose. "I'm here"

Special sales floor for pollen prevention goods earlier than last year

In response to information that pollen is likely to start dispersing earlier than expected, a large general store in Shibuya, Tokyo set up a special sales floor stocked with pollen prevention goods in late January, about a week earlier than last year.

The sales floor has about 30 different products, including glasses and masks to protect your eyes and nose when you go out, cleaning fluid for rinsing your nose, and sprays to prevent pollen from sticking to your face and hair.

With unseasonably warm days continuing and the announcement of the start of pollen dispersion in Tokyo, demand is increasing, with sales for the week ending February 11th increasing by about 20% from the previous week. is.

Loft Public Relations Office Hitomi Takahashi

Hitomi Takahashi

: ``As the temperature rises, we are receiving more inquiries about pollen prevention products, and products that are easy to use and carry, such as glasses and sprays, are very popular.''

Unseasonably warm weather affects pollen dispersal

What kind of impact does unseasonably warm weather have on the dispersal of cedar pollen?

We spoke to Keio Kuramoto, director of the Vegetation Management Laboratory at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute of the Japan Forestry and Forestry Agency, who researches the amount of pollen scattered.

Director Keio Kuramoto

: ``This year, although the amount of dispersion for the season as a whole was lower than last year, which was very high, it was predicted that the dispersion would start a little earlier, but in some areas, the dispersion started a little earlier than predicted. ``

The amount of pollen dispersal throughout the season is largely influenced by weather conditions in the summer of the year before flower buds are formed, but when pollen starts dispersing depends on the cold of winter. It is said that the temperature is determined by how warm it gets when the flowers open after a certain period of time, and there are reports that the amount of cedar pollen scattered increases when the maximum temperature is around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius

. If the temperature suddenly rises after a series of cold days, the flower buds will sense that it is time to bloom and open, which may shorten the period before pollen dispersal begins in earnest. Preparation is important.”

The number of people visiting clinics with hay fever symptoms is increasing.

At an otorhinolaryngology clinic in Tokyo's Chuo Ward that treats hay fever, the number of people visiting the clinic with hay fever symptoms has increased this week.

This clinic requires reservations, and every year at this time of year, we secure 10 slots per day for hay fever treatment, but this week we have had about 5 patients per day at most in mid-January. The number of reservations has increased, and reservation slots are already filled until the end of February.

A 23-year-old woman living in Saitama Prefecture, who had symptoms such as itchy eyes and a runny nose, went to the hospital to be tested to see if she had hay fever.She said, ``Since the beginning of this month, my nose has started running, and recently my eyes have become itchy.'' "I started to feel that," he said.

Alegio Ginza Clinic Director Wu Mengda

Director Wu Mengda

: ``In the past few years, many people have been wearing masks to prevent the new coronavirus, but this year, the number of people wearing them has decreased, so please make sure to wear a mask to prevent hay fever. At the same time, I would like people to take measures as soon as possible, such as visiting a medical institution and taking medication."