SPOKANE, Wash. — If you battle allergies, you're probably all too familiar with the struggle this time of year; the itchy eyes, the sneezing and the runny nose.
To better prepare yourself for what to expect, you may find yourself looking online for the pollen count. However, it turns out those numbers for Spokane may not be as accurate as you'd think.
Spokane Allergy & Asthma Clinic says the top three types of pollen in Spokane are grass, weeds and trees.
Dr. Steven Kernerman said tree pollen got off to a slow start in the Inland Northwest, but increased this month. Grass pollen will begin to ramp up in the coming weeks.
If you suffer from a particular allergen you might do a quick Google search to find the allergy or pollen forecast. In Spokane, you might want to check where the data is actually coming from.
"Those are often extrapolated from other data or trends or actually may be readings from other cities nearby or maybe not so nearby like Seattle," said Dr. Steven Kernerman.
Dr. Kernerman is board certified by the American Board of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He said if you're looking for specific local numbers, those you find online will vary.
A closer look at some websites' sources will reveal many sites pull data from other cities as far as Twin Falls, Idaho, Bellingham, Vancouver, and Seattle.
There are certified pollen counting centers nationwide by The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. They have a certified counter in Coeur d'Alene, but not in Spokane.
Some local clinics collect their own counts because information from other cities are not as accurate for Spokane.
Every city is different when it comes to pollen, Dr. Kernerman said. In Seattle for example, there's more humidity; they have lower elevation and they have different plants and trees.
In general the closer the pollen count is, the more accurate it will be for your area.
So why doesn't Spokane have a certified counter? It turns out, it's a big investment for a clinic to take on, plus they have to test for mold.
"Mold allergy is not as big of an issue here in Spokane as it would be in places that are generally more humid," Dr. Kernerman said.
Regardless, Dr. Kernerman says pollen counts do matter, especially for families who want to make plans outdoors.
"Someone might be planning a family outing and if the pollen count was particularly high, they might want to have a heads up for that," he said.
The good news is Spokane pollen counts are predictable by season. If you want to know the exact reading, your best bet is to contact your allergist.
While a pollen count reading in Coeur d'Alene won't give you the exact reading of what it is in Spokane, it generally gives you an idea of what you can expect for that day.