HARRISONBURG -- Allergy season is coming soon. In some areas, people are already feeling the effects.

Dr. Steve Pence is an allergist and he said only a few warm days in the winter can make allergy season come earlier than usual. Right now, the allergy and pollen levels are not higher than normal, but will last longer this spring.

"If we have warm enough weather through out the winter, for maybe a week even, we might see the tree pollen come out but not in significant levels,” said Dr. Pence, “But if it stays pretty persistent, and not have a hard freeze after after we have had significant warming, then we will have tree pollen that starts earlier."

Dr. Pence expects this year's allergy season to be normal.

He said some symptoms of allergies are a sore throat, coughing, sneezing or a runny nose.

The best ways to fight allergies are taking antihistamines, washing hands, changing clothes and even taking a shower. Just being outside can track dust or pollen inside a home, which then can be left on furniture. When it starts to warm up, leaving on the air conditioning can keep pollen from floating around the house.

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