Allergy season is getting longer in Atlanta
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If you feel like your seasonal allergy symptoms start earlier each year, it's not your imagination.
- Allergy season is getting longer in many U.S. cities amid climate change, according to a new Climate Central analysis.
Why it matters: A drawn-out allergy season means prolonged sneezing, sniffling, wheezing and coughing, which can greatly affect a person's quality of life.
The latest: The freeze-free growing season for plants lengthened from 1970 to 2025 in nearly 90% of the 198 cities analyzed in the climate research group's latest report.
- Among cities with an increase, the freeze-free period grew by an average of 21 days.
- That's the time between the last and first freeze, used here to represent allergy season.
Zoom in: Allergy season has lengthened the most in the Northwest, where the freeze-free period is now 31 days longer on average.
- In Atlanta, the season is, on average, 37 days longer.
Zoom out: Some cities have it worse. Eugene, Oregon, El Paso, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., and Concord, N.H., all saw their seasons increase by at least 40 days.
Stunning stat: The allergy season in Reno, Nevada, has grown by an eye-watering 100 days. For Las Cruces, N.M., the season is 65 days longer.
The intrigue: Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of the few cities that experienced a shorter season, with its period decreasing by 15 days.
What they're saying: "A longer allergy season is nothing to sneeze at — it's a clear signal of a warming world, driven by carbon pollution," said Climate Central vice president for science Kristy Dahl.
- "As temperatures rise, freeze-free seasons are stretching in every region of the country, giving plants weeks of extra time to grow and release pollen.
- "For millions of Americans, that means earlier, longer, and often more intense allergy seasons that can take a real toll on health and daily life."
What's next: NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is calling for high chances of above-normal temperatures across the Southeast for March, and an elevated chance of above-normal temperatures in the Southwest for the early spring months.