Oregon - Allergy Central ?? (Portland, Eugene: real estate, broker, vacation)

[OneBadApple]

Hello everyone....

In late August, the Mrs. and I will be visiting the entire valley area of Oregon for the first time, with stopovers in Eugene and in Salem. That visit is for the sole purpose of considering moving to the state (from Florida).

The existing comments all of you have made are very helpful and informative to us, but the biggest area of concern right now are the statements regarding Oregon having the "highest pollen count / worst allergy" place in the country.

Is this true only around the spring months, or pretty much all year round ??

The answers received here, along with our planned internet study on the subject might convince us to cancel the Oregon part of our vacation altogether.....

Thanks very much,

Doug in Lake Mary, FL

[Eugguy]

The only time I have allergies are in late spring and summer...like right now. And they are REALLY BAD! I never had them in L.A., but here in Eugene...it's intense! After July, they might go away...but I'm not sure. Just bring some Benedryl just in case...and you'll be ok.

[Waterlily]

I have never heard anything about Oregon having the highest pollen count. Right now there is a high alert in the Eugene area for grass allergy. It'll go down after a while and does not last all year.

[Brewer]

Coburg, Harrisburg, and Eugene/Springfield have some of the highest grass pollen counts on Earth during the period from the last week of May until the first week of July. It can be brutal.

Before that there are tree pollen times in May and before that, some mold spores that contribute to the spring pollen festival!

That, the rain during winter, high home prices, and lack of jobs contribute to keep this place from being overrun with people. If you can negotiate these things, it can be paradise here.

I love it here, but you need to be aware before moving.

[sneezes]

[OneBadApple]

HAHAHAHA @ "sneezes"

Thanks to all of you for responding.
Your perspective and comments are very helpful to us.....

Doug

[gidgedvm]

What about the Medford/Ashland/Grants Pass area- do they have high pollen counts/allergy problems as well?

Thanks for the info.
M.G.

[Eugguy]

^ Yes, the Rouge Valley is plagued too...but not quite as badly as the Willamette Valley.

[Rhonda G.]

Hi Doug, I am a real estate broker in Bend, Oregon and have lived in this area my entire life. I don't believe the alergy season is quite as bad or as long as in the valley (Eugene, Salem, Portland). We are in the high desert, much drier here.

[Larry Caldwell]

It all depends on what you are allergic to. If you have allergies, you know that they are very specific. Cities tend to have weird pollen types from imported ornamentals, that flower throughout the summer. Tree pollen is common in the mountains, and peaks around March for native trees and April for fruit trees. Grass pollen is common in the Willamette Valley, peaks in June and is gone by August. The summer air is dry and full of particulates, which can be plant parts, bug parts, smoke and pollution particles, dust or chemicals, all of which cause allergic reactions in some people. The first rain settles the dust, and everybody's allergies go away, except for those people who are allergic to indoor items like pet dander, dust mites, mold, mildew, etc.

Personally, I'm allergic to tree pollen. I get really sick in February, and am completely over it by April. If it rains, I don't have a problem at all. If we have a dry spring, I get pretty miserable.

[ConeyIsBabe]

I lived in the Miami FL area for over 30 years and had no allergy problems. Then I moved to Napa CA and didn't survive my first spring allergy season there; it was BAD. I moved to the Grants Pass area the following year and suffered with seasonal spring allergies for the month of June only. Now, it's my 4th year in the Rogue Valley and this past spring I was allergy-free.