Is it a cold or allergies? That is the question at this time of year for many Sea to Sky allergy sufferers as the warm weather returns.
Science says it is likely that the answer will increasingly be allergies, as pollen counts increase.
The Canadian company,, has 30 pollen samplers located across the country, including in Vancouver and Victoria, that confirm this.
"The arrival of warmer weather on the west coast is triggering a rise in highly allergenic pollen types such as birch and poplar," said Daniel Coates, director of Aerobiology Research. "While cedar and alder pollen are still present, the emergence of birch and poplar will lead to increased discomfort for allergy sufferers."
Coates told The 蜜桃视频app that counts currently (as of April 16) show that birch is rising to higher levels this week.
"It's fluctuating a little bit between high and moderate, but it's going to stay high and very high consistently in the next week or so," he said.
"We're still seeing cedar at moderate levels and alder, but alder is dropping. So that's great news, because it's quite allergenic too. But what is happening is we are seeing poplar in the air too, and that's allergenic for a lot of people."
With cedar, Coates said, there are so many varieties in our south coast region that it is present throughout the allergy season, from spring to fall.
"It just depends on the variety, which species is pollinating when; right now they're going down to low levels. So a group of them are ending their pollination process, but they will come back over the season as well," he said.
Aerobiology Research is Canada's only provider of pollen and outdoor mould forecasts based on real-time data and scientific analysis, says Coates
How the equipment works
Inside each sampler, there's a little arm at the bottom of the machine that rotates in the air, every nine minutes, for one minute, for 24 hours, collecting pollen.
"We have somebody that collects it every day, puts it into a vial, and then ships it to our lab," Coates explained.
In the lab in Ottawa, the samples are examined.
The data shows that oak is going to start being in the air shortly.
Oak and grass can be highly allergenic for some folks.
"It's not in the air right now, but it's coming in the next week or two, and grass actually is going to start for you folks in the next few weeks as well."
The count is currently low right now for these allergens, just a couple of grains per cubic metre, but that signals that they are coming, Coates said.
"Lots of highly allergenic pollen is coming to your region."
Meanwhile, much of the rest of Canada is still awaiting the true start of pollen season, he noted.
Overall, though, it isn't predicted to be an “insane” allergy season.
So far this year, in the Vancouver area, February saw "much lower" pollen counts compared with last year.
Coates is quick to qualify that information to say that while this may not be a particularly brutal allergy season, the trend is that allergens are increasing over time.
"Our trend line dictates that we are seeing more and more pollen over the years, all the time," he said.
"So it goes up and down like a business ... but it is worse year over year."
Coates said the company's data is 80% accurate.
They know this because they make forecasts and then can see in their pollen samplers if their forecast came true.
You can see the forecasts too
While the company's data was used to create forecasts for the Weather Network for 30 years, Coates says the network’s parent company has decided to discontinue using its pollen and spore forecasts in 2025.
Therefore, is currently developing an app that will be launched in mid-May, which will provide users with pollen forecasts and allow users to log their medication and their symptoms.
Go to to learn more about the app.
In the meantime, when you sign up for the app with your email address and closest city, you will receive pollen reports delivered to your email.
Reached for comment, Karen Kheder, head of communications for Pelmorex Corp, The Weather Network's parent company sent the following emailed statement:
"The Weather Network products continue to feature pollen forecasts and related information.We collaborate with various leading vendors, choosing partners based on our strategic priorities and our commitment to delivering the most accurate and timely information to our users worldwide."
Please note: The 蜜桃视频app updated this story after it was first published to include comment from The Weather Network's parent company.
