Thunderstorm asthma can occur when high grass-pollen levels combine with particular thunderstorm conditions, triggering asthma symptoms in susceptible people. It is uncommon and requires a specific combination of weather and pollen factors, but understanding your personal risk can help you prepare before spring arrives.
People with asthma are not the only group who may be affected. Those with seasonal hay fever, even without a previous asthma diagnosis, can also be relevant to thunderstorm asthma risk.
Key Takeaways
- Thunderstorm asthma requires a specific combination of high pollen levels and particular thunderstorm conditions.
- Asthma and seasonal hay fever can both increase relevance to risk, even without a prior asthma diagnosis.
- In NSW, the higher-risk period is generally October to December.
- Preparation includes reviewing asthma or hay fever management, monitoring forecasts, and knowing emergency symptoms.
What Is Thunderstorm Asthma and Why Is Spring Important in NSW?
During certain thunderstorms, grass-pollen grains are thought to break into much smaller particles. Storm winds can then concentrate and spread these particles, making them easier to breathe deep into the airways. The exact process is not completely understood, but this is the mechanism currently proposed by Australian health authorities.
In NSW, October to December is generally the higher-risk period, when grass pollen levels are typically elevated. Not every thunderstorm during this time produces thunderstorm-asthma conditions; it remains an uncommon event that depends on a particular combination of circumstances.
Who Is More Likely to Be Affected by Thunderstorm Asthma?
People with current or previous asthma, seasonal hay fever, and grass-pollen sensitivity are the groups most relevant to thunderstorm asthma risk. Having hay fever does not mean someone will necessarily experience thunderstorm asthma – it simply means the risk is worth being aware of.
Groups that may be more likely to be affected include:
- people with current or previous asthma, including asthma that is not well controlled
- people with undiagnosed asthma who have not previously had symptoms assessed
- people with spring hay fever or allergic rhinitis
- people with known sensitivity to grass or ryegrass pollen
- people who notice wheezing or coughing specifically during spring
Hay Fever or Asthma – Which Spring Symptoms Need More Attention?
Symptoms alone cannot confirm whether something is hay fever or asthma, but the pattern can offer useful clues.
| More typical of hay fever | Asthma-type breathing symptoms |
| Sneezing | Wheezing |
| Itchy or watery eyes | Chest tightness |
| Runny or blocked nose | Breathlessness |
| Nasal irritation | Persistent cough |
If you experience wheeze, breathlessness, or chest tightness for the first time, particularly around high-pollen conditions, a GP assessment is appropriate outside of an emergency. These symptoms should not simply be assumed to be ordinary hay fever.
How Can You Prepare for Thunderstorm Asthma This Spring?
Preparation looks different depending on the timing. These steps can help you prepare for periods of higher pollen and thunderstorm asthma risk, though they cannot guarantee that symptoms will not occur.
Before the Higher-Risk Months
- review your current asthma management with your GP if needed
- keep a written Asthma Action Plan current and accessible
- make sure prescribed asthma medicines are up to date and easy to access
- discuss any recurring spring wheeze or chest tightness with your GP
- manage hay fever according to your GP’s or pharmacist’s advice
- parents: make sure school or childcare has your child’s current asthma plan
When High Pollen and Thunderstorms Are Forecast
- monitor reliable weather and pollen forecasts
- limit outdoor exposure where practical, particularly during gusty conditions before rain
- close windows and doors during high-pollen storm conditions
- use recirculated air indoors where suitable
- keep prescribed reliever medicine accessible
- Follow your existing Asthma Action Plan if symptoms develop
When Should You Speak With a GP Before or During Spring?
Consider a GP review if you experience recurring spring wheezing, chest tightness, or breathlessness, especially alongside hay fever symptoms. This also applies if your asthma symptoms are becoming more frequent, or if you are unsure whether your current action plan still reflects your situation.
A GP assessment is also appropriate if:
- you are experiencing asthma-type symptoms for the first time, outside of an emergency
- you have questions about your prescribed inhaler use or technique
- your hay fever seems to be accompanied by lower-airway symptoms
During an appointment, your GP may review your symptom pattern, previous asthma or allergy history, current medicines, and your action plan, and discuss whether further assessment is appropriate.
If spring hay fever is accompanied by wheezing, coughing or chest tightness, consider GP assessment for recurring breathing symptoms to review the pattern and discuss appropriate next steps.
When Are Breathing Symptoms an Emergency?
Seek urgent medical attention for:
- severe or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty
- inability to speak comfortably or in full sentences because of breathlessness
- blue lips
- little or no improvement after following a prescribed asthma emergency plan
Call Triple Zero (000) for a breathing emergency.
Thunderstorm asthma symptoms can escalate quickly, so do not wait to see if they settle on their own.
Preparing for Spring With Asthma or Hay Fever
Knowing your personal risk, keeping your asthma or hay fever management current, and paying attention to symptoms and forecasts are the most practical steps you can take this spring.
For people in Valentine and surrounding Lake Macquarie communities, spring is a sensible time to review recurring asthma or hay fever symptoms before they become harder to manage. If you’re supporting a child with asthma, our childhood asthma symptoms and triggers article covers broader seasonal guidance.
If you have asthma or recurring spring breathing symptoms, you can book a GP appointment in Valentine to review your symptoms and current asthma management.
FAQs
Can you get thunderstorm asthma if you have never had asthma?
Yes, it can affect some people without a previous asthma diagnosis, particularly those with seasonal hay fever or grass-pollen sensitivity. First-time wheezing or breathing difficulty during spring should be medically assessed.
Does having hay fever increase the risk of thunderstorm asthma?
Seasonal allergic rhinitis related to grass pollen is an important risk factor, but having hay fever does not mean someone will necessarily experience thunderstorm asthma.
Can thunderstorm asthma symptoms start before the rain?
Yes. Exposure can occur during gusty winds that arrive ahead of the rain front, which is why limiting outdoor exposure is recommended as a thunderstorm approaches on high-pollen days.
Does every spring thunderstorm cause thunderstorm asthma?
No. Thunderstorm asthma is uncommon and requires a particular combination of high pollen levels and specific thunderstorm conditions; not every storm during spring will carry this risk.