You may notice your allergy symptoms either continuing or returning, depending on your sensitivity. While you're not seeing the yellow-covered everything that you would with tree pollen, the levels are high as we transition from summer to fall.

It's mostly due to things like ragweed. Below are the levels most recently observed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

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Most recent pollen observations in Raleigh
Most recent pollen observations in Raleigh (© WRAL)

Pollen seasons change depending on what's growing – sounds self-explanatory, right?

As we get into August and September, ragweed becomes one of the more dominant allergens.

How our pollen seasons change from spring to autumn
How our pollen seasons change from spring to autumn (© WRAL)

In order to get any semblance of relief, we need frosts and freezes to happen. Pollen travels more efficiently when the air is warmer, because that air is less dense.

On average, the first fall freeze in our part of the state doesn't come until late October.

Average first fall freeze across North Carolina
Average first fall freeze across North Carolina (© WRAL)

In the past ten years, however, that first fall freeze has come in November in the Triangle. This is a sign of a long-term trend, according to Climate Central. Compared to 1970, the first freeze in the Triangle is happening nearly three weeks later.

Later fall frosts lead to longer fall allergies
Later fall frosts lead to longer fall allergies (© WRAL)

In essence, this means that our allergy season is being extended by that long too.