The impending rise in temperatures these days, following a period of intense rainfall that Spain has experienced since last March, represents the “perfect” combination for plants to activate and intensify their pollination. For pollen allergy sufferers, however, this is an ordeal, as many are currently struggling with sneezing and itchy eyes. High pollen levels are being recorded in almost all regions of Spain, reaching peak levels in more than half of the country.
According to the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA), the concentration of olive and grass pollen grains is forecast for this Tuesday to remain high in the south and center of the country, while remaining low in the north. In addition, pollen from Quercus (holm oaks, oaks, and kermes oaks) will rise to moderate levels throughout the peninsula, with high concentrations in the center and northwest. Nettle, on the other hand, will have moderate concentrations in the central and northeastern parts of the peninsula, the agency adds.
These forecasts are consistent with the predictions from eltiempo.es, which are also based on REA data. “The most aggressive pollen in May are grasses and olive trees. Pollinosis indices for grasses are high or moderate throughout the country, especially in the central and western half of the country. Olive pollen is particularly present in the central and western half of Spain, but also in provinces such as Castellón, Tarragona, Lugo, and Ourense, where olive pollen levels are high or moderate. A moderate level is expected in the rest of the country,” states the eltiempo.es website.
In addition, mugwort, birch, alder, and ragweed have low to very low pollen indices.
For this Thursday, pollen levels are forecast to range from high to moderate throughout the country, although the situation will be particularly complicated in the southern half of the peninsula and in Tarragona, where high pollen levels are expected. Only in Cantabria and the Basque Country will the levels be low. For Friday, extreme pollen concentrations are forecast to move towards the southwest of the peninsula, including Madrid and Cuenca, but excluding Málaga. Tarragona will experience high levels, while the rest of the country, with the exception of Cantabria, the Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, and Alicante, will register moderate levels, according to eltiempo.es.
The Department of Health of the Community of Madrid warned on Tuesday that “high levels of grass pollen” will be measured throughout the region on Wednesday, advising allergy sufferers to “take appropriate preventive measures and follow the treatment prescribed by their doctor.”
According to the Community of Madrid’s Pollen and Spore Monitoring System, the average grass levels measured this year, 2025, exceed the highest levels of the last 30 years, which are already well above the levels considered high.
Grasses make up about 20% of the world’s plant area and are commonly found along streams, paths, roads, fields, and in urban areas in Spain.
In terms of olive pollen levels, Jaén is experiencing extreme levels. The University Hospital of Jaén – a province with 67 million olive trees – reported a concentration of 7,711 grains per cubic meter of air on Monday, the highest this year and three times higher than a week ago.
Olive tree flowering began this week, due to the intense rains of the past few months and the rise in temperatures of the past few days, which has led to an increase in health emergencies in Jaén. “This year, we are seeing that allergy sufferers are presenting much more aggressive symptoms due to the milder temperatures,” Manuel Alcántara, head of allergology at the Hospital de Jaén, where 200 new allergy sufferers are treated annually, told EFE.
Official forecasts from the Ministry of Health and the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) indicate that concentrations of 16,000 to 19,000 pollen grains per cubic meter (taking all pollen types into account) are expected this season, indicating that allergy sufferers in southern Spain, particularly in Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, Badajoz, and Cáceres, will experience a very complicated spring.
Symptoms and Tips
Spring allergies can manifest through a variety of symptoms, including sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, coughing, and, in some instances, difficulty breathing. Given these potential complications, allergy specialists advise taking significant precautions. “It is crucial for patients to adhere to their preventive treatment, which varies for each individual suffering from allergies. Additionally, they should minimize contact with nature and consider using masks, such as FP2 masks, which have demonstrated considerable effectiveness,” emphasizes the allergist from Jaén.
In general, specialists advise avoiding direct contact with the plants that produce the pollen to which one is allergic, keeping hands and face clean, frequently rinsing the nose and eyes with fresh water, and taking the medication prescribed by the doctor.
According to the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), due to the high temperatures at the beginning of the year and the heavy rainfall in February and March, pollen is expected to persist in the environment for longer this spring, which may lead to more persistent allergy symptoms.
