Jacksonville Cited as One of the Nation’s 'Allergy Capitals' in 2025

If you think this spring’s allergy season was particularly severe, you’re right. A new survey by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America names Jacksonville among the top 20 “most challenging places to live with pollen allergies” in 2025.

Jacksonville ranked 20th, the highest-ranked Florida city to make the list. In 2024, Jacksonville ranked 71st nationally. Other Florida cities with worse-than-average rates of pollen allergy in 2025 were Sarasota, Tampa, Lakeland, Palm Bay and Orlando. Most of the cities named as “most challenging places to live with pollen allergies” were in the Southeastern United States. Only larger metropolitan areas were surveyed. Augusta, Georgia, was also ranked high, thus placing Nassau County in a geographical region with especially high pollen counts.

The report notes that pollen allergies vary from year to year around the country. For example, New Orleans ranked 34th last year but jumped to the second-most challenging place in 2025 due to Hurricane Francine. The hurricane hit Louisiana in September 2024, increasing moisture in the region and triggering a much higher weed pollen season. This year, Wichita, Kansas, ranked No. 1 on the list.

According to the AAFA, about 100 million people in the United States suffer from allergies and/or asthma. Climate change has contributed to more cases of allergies and asthma in recent decades. “Warmer temperatures trap heat in urban areas, increasing air pollution and stimulating pollen production,” the report states.

Seasonal allergies cause sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, red and watery eyes, and itchiness of the nose, eyes, ears and mouth. Asthma can flare up due to allergies, producing breathing problems.

"People are surprised allergy seasons are getting longer and stronger, but that's due to climate change," said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and spokesperson for the Allergy and Asthma Network, a nonprofit patient advocacy group.

More trouble to come

We’re not yet free of sneezing and watery eyes. While tree pollen may be declining in Northeast Florida, weed and grass allergies may cause continued symptoms, experts say.

An extended tree pollen season in the spring is followed by grass allergies in the summer and weed pollen in the fall, said Dr. Andrew Abreo, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Manning Family Children's in New Orleans. “High humidity contributes to increased mold counts and dust mite exposure," he said. "It's less of an allergy season and more of a year-round challenge." 

If you’re suffering, talk to your health care provider about remedies. Many types of medications — including antihistamines, eye drops, decongestants and nasal sprays — can relieve symptoms. Consider the following tips from AAFA:

• Check pollen counts daily and plan outdoor activities around the pollen count.
• On high pollen days, stay inside. When you need to go outside, wear sunglasses, a hat or head covering, and a mask to limit the amount of pollen that gets into your eyes, nose, mouth and lungs.
• Apps like Pollen Wise can help you track your daily pollen counts.
• Remove your shoes before entering your home.
• Change and wash clothes after outdoor activities.
• Wipe furry animals off when they come inside or bathe them weekly.
• Shower before bed to keep pollen out of your bedding.
• Keep windows closed during pollen season or peak pollen times (usually midday).
• Use central air conditioning or air cleaners with a HEPA or Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified filter, if possible.
• Clean bedding, floors and fabric furniture once a week.
• Clean blinds, curtains and washable rugs once a month.