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Maine Sunday Telegram, April 23, 1989

Weather
[Image alt text: The Accu-Weather forecast for 6PM, Sunday, the 23rd of April.]

Maine zonal forecast
Northeast(1), Northern Interior(2): Today, occasional snow
and windy, additional accumulations possible, high near 35.
North to northwest winds 15 to 25 mph and gusty. Chance of
precipitation 80 percent. Tonight, occasional light snow, low
near 25. Chance of precipitation 70 percent. Monday, scattered
flurries, high near 40. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Interior Washington County(3), Coastal Washington
County(4): Today, occasional snow and windy, some additional
accumulations possible, high near 40. Northwest winds 15 to 25
mph and gusty. Chance of precipitation 80 percent. Tonight,
scattered flurries, low 25 to 30. Chance of precipitation 50
percent. Monday, partly sunny, high 43 to 48.
Northwest(5), Western Mountains(9), Western Foothills(12):
Today, scattered flurries and windy, high near 35. Northwest
winds 15 to 25 mph and gusty. Chance of precipitation 50
percent. Tonight, scattered flurries, low near 25. Chance of
precipitation 50 percent. Monday, partly sunny with a 30
percent chance of flurries, high 42 to 47.
Central Highlands(6), Penobscot Valley(7), Penobscot Bay-Mt.
Desert(8): Today, scattered flurries and windy, high near 40.
Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph and gusty. Chance of precipitation
50 percent. Tonight, scattered flurries, low 25 to 30. Chance
of precipitation 40 percent. Monday, partly sunny, high near 45.
Capital(10), Midcoast(11): Today, scattered flurries and windy,

[Image alt text: A map of the forecast zones.]

Spring plant explosion
is something to sneeze at
WeatherWhys
By Bruce Schwoegler
The Associated Press

BOSTON - Most of us think that allery season is
the heyday of ragweed from late summer into fall, but
another peak develops during spring, especially now
through May.

Plants of all types are exploding as nature works
overtime to bring home the green. Trees, filling their
winter bareness with leaves, release pollen. Some of it
can be particularly debilitating.

Chelmsford, Mass., allergist Dr. Jack Farnham's
pollen counts indicate that tree pollen is about two
weeks early this year, but it should not be a major
headache this time around. Tree pollen potentials are
directly related to the previous growing season's
precipitation, and we did not have much.

The first tree pollens start as early as March with
more arriving in April and a virtual flood filling the
atmosphere in May. Poplars begin around St. Patrick's
Day. Willow and cottonwood are close behind. Maples
release their more troublesome pollen in late April,
but this year they have already peaked at tax time.

Oak, beech and birch are the big guns that blare in
May. But oak's mid-month bloom should shift gears to
May 1. These tree pollens seem to affect more people
in more serious ways than all others. That includes
highly visible pine pollen which debuts about June 1.

Pines dust the wind with a yellow veil that covers
autos, outdoor furniture and even indoor furnishings
with a layer of yellow frosting. Because of its larger
size and waxy nature, pine pollen is relatively innocuous.
The particles are too big and sticky to remain
airborne or to travel deeply into your respiratory
system.

The severity of pollens can be evaluated in two
ways. A few tree species might release excessive
amounts of potent pollens and cause serious allergic
reactions in a limited sector of the populace.

Or, numerous species might release smaller concentrations
which affect a broad spectrum of people to
a lesser degree. In either case, pollen release is
greatest during the morning hours and is speeded by
windy, dry and mild weather. Airborne pollens can
easily drift 40 miles from forest to downtown.

People who suffer from tree pollen have immune
systems that over-react to the invaders. There is
nothing wrong with their general health. Many of us
are born with a tendency toward allery but need
exposure to particular irritants called allergens to
develop a reaction.

If you lived in a treeless desert, there would be no
exposure, and you would never have a reaction. Even a
brief walk in the woods would not light your fuse.
Prolonged exposure would.

L.L.Bean
Public Clinic Program

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