Pollen levels drop giving allergy sufferers a break but expect a rebound next week

Your eyes and nose might have noticed. But they're not free and clear yet.

Pollen levels have dropped across the state this week but the experts say summer allergies may be here to stay a bit longer.

Chief Medical Officer for the Minnesota Allergy and Asthma Center Dr. Douglas McMahon says warmer temperatures this month could mean irritants like ragweed could be here longer than expected. He does add that things like mold aren't as much of an issue though.

"It won't go away completely until we get the ground frozen for the weed pollens," McMahon explained. "Also this time of year, we do see some molds  and we aren't seeing as many molds with it being a little bit drier."

Pollen levels have remained low over the last couple of days in Minnesota but McMahon says they could be back up as soon as next week. And this year, like most years, ragweed is to blame.

"So the counts are slightly down right now," McMahon says. "Unfortunately, they are projected to come back up a little bit and unfortunately they won't go away completely until the ground freezes."

Although Minnesota's allergy season is relatively mild compared to other parts of the country, levels ramp up significantly in May, June and September.