RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — We are one week into March. While we've had storms and wild temperature swings so far this month, we still haven't had the annual blanket of yellow pine pollen.
In central North Carolina, the yellow pine pollen typically shows up the first half of March. The mix of rain and cool temperatures have delayed it over the past few weeks, but with dry weather and warmer temperatures expected the second full week of March, we can also likely expect the yellow pine pollen to start covering everything.
The yellow pollen that coats cars and every other outdoor surface comes from pine trees and the "candles" that bunch with the pinecones. They release this yellow pollen as part of their reproductive cycle.
Here's when the pine pollen really started to show up in the last 5 years in central North Carolina:
- In 2024, the yellow pine pollen started around March 15
- In 2023, the yellow pine pollen started around Feb. 20
- In 2022, the yellow pine pollen started around March 7
- In 2021, the yellow pine pollen started around March 14
- In 2020, the yellow pine pollen started around March 4
- In 2019, the yellow pine pollen started around March 9
The yellow pine pollen usually lasts about four to six weeks in central North Carolina. This pollen is usually too large to creep into your nose and sinuses causing allergy problems, but the small tree and grass pollens start to become more numerous this time of year contributing to allergy problems.