Allergists warn area may be hit hard

Some pollen allergy sufferers already are giving spring a tearful hello as tree pollen counts climb into the hundreds. But brace yourself for more. This could be a nasty allergy season, allergists warn.

Pollinating trees are budding earlier, and recent rains that have scrubbed pollen from the air also have given the trees what they need to produce more, said Dr. Duane Gels, an allergist with Annapolis Allergy and Asthma who is also on staff at the Anne Arundel Medical Center.