Unusual Weather Shifts Canary Islands Allergy Season Into Summer

Unusual weather in the Canary Islands during the first three months of the year has disrupted the typical season for respiratory allergies, according to the newspaper El Día. Frequent storms have not provided relief for patients; instead, they have pushed the peak allergy season into the summer and worsened symptoms caused by dust mites due to higher humidity.

Experts from the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC) and the Canary Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology explain that heavy rainfall has delayed the natural pollination cycle. Once the weather stabilizes and temperatures rise, plants are expected to bloom more intensely than usual. Specialists warn that this will lead to a higher concentration of pollen in the air, which could cause more severe reactions than in previous years.

The impact will vary across the islands. While areas like Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and parts of southern Tenerife typically see fewer seasonal allergies, these changing weather patterns could trigger new sensitivities in people who have never had them before. Doctors advise people to distinguish these allergies from common colds and to seek a medical diagnosis for persistent symptoms like watery eyes, a stuffy nose, or a dry cough to prevent complications such as asthma attacks.

It is important to note that in the Canary Islands, dust mites—not pollen—are the primary cause of allergies, accounting for over 80% of cases. The recent humidity and unstable temperatures have created the perfect environment for dust mites to thrive indoors. Additionally, local plants like pellitory and mugwort have pollination cycles that last from March through July, keeping pollen levels consistently high. Given these conditions, specialists recommend starting preventive treatments early to prepare for a longer and more challenging allergy season.