COLUMBUS (WCMH)-We can thank all those warm, rainy days this spring, following a very mild winter, for some of the sneezing and sniffling going on lately.

The past few weeks have been rough on allergy sufferers throughout Ohio, and from the Mid-Atlantic to the Midwest.

“Certainly when there has been a lot of rain and warm weather, that’s when the plants really thrive,” said Dr. Gital Pavel, a Columbus allergist with Premier Allergy. She said that when the weather warmed into the 70s and 80s recently , pollen was released into the air and “travels for thousands and thousands of miles, hits your mucosa, eyes, nose.”

Tree pollen arrived a few weeks ahead of schedule in early spring after a record warm February. Grass pollen is coming next in the late spring and early summer, a looming convergence of headaches for those who contend with seasonal allergies.

The wind carries pollen blown off the trees, which is out in abundance. A moist setting has led to even more pollen than usual, which becomes a problem especially on dry, warm and windy spring days-and there have been many this month.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, check with your physician regarding the best course of treatment for itchy, watery eyes and nose symptoms.