Why San Diego's allergy season is getting worse

It's going to be a sniffly summer: San Diego now ranks as one of the worst places for pollen allergies, a recent report shows.

Why it matters: More pollen is sticking around town, floating in the air, coating our cars and making many of our lives miserable.

Stunning stat: We're now considered a top allergy capital, soaring from No. 97 to No. 2 among U.S. cities in the 2026 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Winter and early spring rainstorms last year and warmer temperatures are to blame for the extended allergy season and higher pollen amounts, per the report.

How it works: In San Diego, the peak grass pollen season spreads throughout the summer rather than an intense two-week burst like in other cities, Scripps allergist Ronald Simon told Axios.

Seasons are shorter and more drastic in places like New York, Chicago and Denver, so the pollen comes out all at once. With the relatively warm weather here, people can have pollen allergy symptoms year-round.

Our rise in the rankings is due to a larger total number of high pollen days, but the "high" levels aren't as extreme as other cities, Simon said.

In other words, "It is getting worse, but not that dramatically," he said. "And it's getting worse everywhere."

Plus, San Diego's June gloom seems to be getting weaker, and that strong sea breeze isn't clearing out the pollen like it used to, Simon said.

"It just hovers over most of the county these days, so clearly people's allergy symptoms are worse," he said.

The big picture: West Coast cities have historically avoided the worst allergy rankings, which have often been dominated by the Southeast, but not this year.

The annual list ranks the most challenging places to live with allergies, and several cities in the West jumped into the top 20 due to climate change-fueled weather patterns.

Pro tips: Check pollen forecasts before going outside, shower after you come back in, wipe off your furry pets, and start allergy medications before symptoms become severe, per the allergy foundation.

To minimize symptoms, Simon also suggests:

Closing windows during high pollen days and hours;

Using an allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers;

Getting a HEPA air purifier and cleaning air conditioning filters;

Using nasal sprays, sinus rinses and non-drowsy antihistamines.

The bottom line: Your summer allergies aren't necessarily going to be horrible, but there's a reason you might be feeling like they're worse than usual.