Andorra Braces for Worst Pollen Season in Years in 2026 After Record Rains

Allergy specialists in Andorra predict a particularly intense pollen season in 2026, one of the worst in recent years, following heavy autumn and winter rains that have boosted vegetation growth.

Dr Agustín Sansosti, an allergist based in Andorra la Vella, links the heightened risk to record precipitation. He noted that last year was already severe and expects this spring to match or exceed it. Data from the Meteorological Service at the FEDA Central station underline the shift: January 2026 saw 136.1 mm of rain, up from 26.2 mm in both January 2024 and 2025. February recorded 98 mm, compared to 21.7 mm in 2025 and 10.5 mm in 2024. Autumn rains also surged, with November 2025 bringing 116.5 mm against 21.2 mm the previous November. Sansosti highlighted that much of this year's downpours arrived with unusual force.

Cypress pollination kicked off in late January and early February, but recent cold snaps have lowered airborne levels for now. Cases should increase after Easter as warmer weather returns. Ash and birch trees are due in April, with grasses following in May. Peak concentrations typically hit in the mornings and evenings.

Sansosti recommends sunglasses, closed windows, and masks for protection, though he acknowledged post-pandemic resistance to the latter.

Longer term, World Health Organization projections indicate allergy rates could double from the current 25-30% of the population to 50% by 2050. Climate-driven warmer conditions are lengthening pollination seasons and starting them earlier, the expert said. Some in the field also point to the epithelial barrier theory, where pollution, preservatives, and detergents weaken the tissue lining skin and airways, allowing allergens, bacteria, viruses, and toxins to trigger sensitivities.