Atlanta broke two weather records Tuesday: One you feel in your toes, the other you feel in your nose.
The region's seventh straight day of daytime highs above 80 degrees broke the record for most consecutive days above 80 in March.
Meanwhile, the pollen count continued to skyrocket into uncharted territory Tuesday, climbing another 1,205 points above Monday's record-shattering mark.
The count of 9,369 particles of pollen per cubic meter of air Tuesday -- the first day of spring -- is 55 percent higher than the record prior to this week of 6,013, set on April 12, 1999.
Last year, the highest pollen count measured by the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic was 3,939 on March 24.
"Warm sunny days have brought out everything at once," said Glenn Burns, chief meteorologist for Channel 2 Action News.
Besides setting an all-time record for pollen, "we broke the record of six consecutive days in March with temps of 80 degrees or higher," set in 1907, Burns said. "Our high Tuesday was 83. We will break the record again Wednesday with an expected high of 80.
"Then we will see 70s return Thursday through next week."
The forecast also calls for isolated showers later in the day Wednesday, increasing to a 30 percent chance of afternoon rain Thursday and a 40 percent chance Friday.
But for many residents, the warm, sunny days are outweighed by sneezy sinuses, scratchy throats and watery eyes.
Many pharmacies are having difficulty keeping antihistamines on the shelves, Channel 2 reported.
“I call Atlanta the allergy capital of the galaxy,” pharmacist Ira Katz told Channel 2. He said the pollen levels – and the run on allergy medicines by customers -- are the worst he’s seen in the 31 years he’s operated the Little Five Points Pharmacy on Moreland Avenue in Atlanta.
“It seems like 60 to 70 percent of what we’re selling today is allergy-related,” Katz said.
Allergy sufferer Dick Wooley of Smyrna spoke to Channel 2 at a Cobb County pharmacy.
“I’ve lived here since 1951 and never had a problem before,” Wooley said. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen it.”
Robin Butterworth said tree pollen not only has covered her car, but it’s coated her throat and left it raw and scratchy. She takes an antihistamine every 24 hours.
“I just take it every morning as a precaution, just because I know it’s going to be like this,” she said.
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