Areas across Yorkshire, North East and North West England are expected to be hit with high pollen counts this weekend
MILLIONS of Brits could face a potentially fatal allergy hell as thunderstorms and pollen combine to create a hay fever perfect storm this weekend, experts have warned.
Violent storms are expected to mix with the high pollen count over the next few days - combining to worsen the effects of asthma for Brits.
Asthma charities have even warned Brits should stay indoors with fears the weather conditions could be potentially fatal in rare cases.
The phenomenon has been dubbed "thunder fever" after nine people died from asthma attacks after thunderstorms tore across Melbourne, Australia, last year,
Sonia Munde of Asthma UK said an estimated 3.3million Brits had their asthma triggered by pollen, explaining: "Thunderstorms can have a devastating impact on people with asthma and trigger an asthma attack which could be fatal.
"Humid, stormy conditions break the pollen into much smaller particles, which are then inhaled more deeply into the lungs and can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks."
She advised people to ensure they had their medication on hand over the weekend to relieve their symptoms.
Heavy thunderstorms are expected from Saturday to Monday, while the pollen count is expected to reach high in Yorks and Humber and Stratchlyde over the weekend.
Other areas across the north will reach a moderate pollen count.
Allergy UK nurse advisor Holly Shaw warned that the conditions were ripe to cause thunder storm asthma, saying that the fine particles could easily make their way deep into a person's lungs, causing inflammation and irritation.
She said: "When weather patterns change, we see humid and stormy conditions, it is concerning for people with hay fever and asthma."
She said the season for tree pollen was coming to an end, but the season was moving into pollen caused by grass - the main factor to affect those with asthma and allergies.
But expert Dr Jean Emberlin, who works with Opticrom Hayfever Eye Drops, said the weekend's pollen count would not be overly dangerous, saying: "The grass pollen season in this country is the last week of May, June and July.
"Although thunderstorms are predicted, there aren't going to be large episodes of pollen released."
HAY fever sufferers are overpaying for prescription pills, it is claimed.
They should buy generic remedies, says MoneySavingExpert.
The NHS doled out 180,000 prescriptions in 2016-17, costing around £8 each.
But the pills are £1.99 a pack over the counter.
Money expert Steve Nowottny said: “Potential savings are not to be sneezed at.”
Temperatures this weekend are expected to reach about 14C, with a band of rain coming through the west tomorrow.
Met Office forecaster Sophie Yeomans said: "Most places in the UK will see some sunny spells, but there is a risk of heavy showers.
"The temperatures will certainly be cooler than last weekend.
She said the pollen count was expected to reach moderate to high levels over this weekend, making it a difficult weekend for the one in five people who suffer from hay fever in the UK.
She said that the current allergen warnings were for birch, ash and oak.
According to the Met Office, cloud and rain is expected to linger across eastern and northeastern areas at times intro Monday.
Temperatures will remain around average 14C, with signals that the weather could turn drier and warmer.
Contact Allergy UK Helpline for any assistance on 1322 619898 or Asthma UK Helpline on 0300 222 5800
