Storm Debbie triggers a hurricane warning for the UK – while thousands of Britons suffer through hay fever hell
A hurricane may be about to hit the country, with Britons suffering from the discomfort of hay fever that usually appears in summer.
Thousands now suffer almost year-round, and allergy experts say the debilitating condition now extends into the fall. This phenomenon, called fall sneezing syndrome, is said to be caused by changing pollen patterns as well as an invasive plant called ragweed.
Previous studies previously indicated that only a small number of people developed hay fever allergies during the fall. This was caused by increased levels of mold and fungal spores, which are often found in piles of rotting leaves, grass clippings, compost piles, and garden sheds.
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But Dr Adrian Morris, of Surrey Allergy Clinic, said the number of people affected was increasing because of allergic reactions caused by ragweed, which sheds pollen later in the year than most plants.
Britons suffering from hay fever have another problem to contend with: There’s a severe weather forecast on hurricane watch websites that says a “fast-moving deep Atlantic depression” will bring “extremely strong winds” that could bring “a hurricane or two,” the newspaper reported. The Mirror reported that wind speeds reached 100 miles per hour.
This means a strange juxtaposition for Britons. Dr Morris said: “You usually get hay fever starting with tree pollen in March and April, then grass pollen from May to August, and then that’s the end of it for most people. But now we’re being affected well into the autumn.” “
Ragweed is native to America, but has spread throughout Europe and has now reached Britain. Margaret Kennedy, who suffers from fall sneezing syndrome, says her attacks are so violent they make her feel pain.
She said: “I sneezed ten times in a row, and I have a box of tissues in every room of the house, and my nose is dripping profusely.” Experts say help is close at hand and can be purchased from most supermarkets.
Thomas Jack, an ear, nose and throat surgeon from the Nose and Sinus Clinic in London, recommended antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays.
“There are a lot of people suffering unnecessarily because they don’t realize that there are things available in stores that can help,” he said.
It comes as a double storm from the US will see a 500-mile-wide storm hit Britons this week. Storm Debbie will bring winds of 80 mph today while another threat on Thursday is set to be named Storm Ellen.
Debbie will hit the north with winds of up to 80 mph and heavy rain, and the southwest with 20-foot waves. The Met Office warned of “extremely stormy” conditions again on Thursday.
Computer forecasts show winds of up to 75 miles per hour on the West Coast, blowing across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States. The Met Office will name Storm Ellen when an incoming Atlantic weather system has the potential for amber wind warnings, with rain impacts also taken into account.
The Environment Agency warned of further flooding. Thursday’s storm is expected to turn into an “atmospheric bomb” as it suddenly intensifies as atmospheric pressure decreases. Another bout of storms is also scheduled for the weekend.
A Met Office meteorologist said: “We expect significant impacts from Storm Debbie. It is possible that it will be very windy on Thursday. Periods of wet and windy weather are expected to prevail in most areas, especially the southern and western parts.
“Further areas of low pressure may develop and affect the UK over the next week.”
Rain is expected every day for the next ten days, according to the BBC weather forecast, in the north, and for eight of the next ten days in the south. The ground is already wet from the heavy rains of the previous weeks.
“Groundwater flooding is likely in the south over the next five days,” the Environment Agency said. It was a Sunday to remember, as a 300-mile-wide tongue of icy air from the Arctic dropped temperatures to 6C.
Yesterday (Sunday) saw the first almost nationwide frost since last winter, with snow falling in Scotland on higher ground. BBC Weather said: “Wintry showers are possible on Thursday at higher altitudes in north Wales and northern England as cold air moves in.”
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