Spring in Melbourne can be beautiful—but for many people, it also means sneezing, itchy eyes, a blocked nose and, sometimes, trouble breathing.
As grass pollen season begins across Victoria, it is easy to dismiss these symptoms as “just hay fever”. But there is an important reason to pay closer attention, particularly if you notice coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath.
Hay fever and asthma are different conditions, but they can be closely connected. Pollen can trigger hay fever symptoms and can also trigger asthma symptoms. During certain thunderstorms, high levels of grass pollen can create an additional risk known as thunderstorm asthma.
For people living in Melbourne and the northern suburbs, understanding the difference can help you recognise symptoms earlier and know when it is time to speak with a GP.
Important: This article provides general health information and does not replace individual medical advice. If you are having severe difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Hay fever or asthma: what’s the difference?
The simplest way to think about it is this: hay fever mainly affects the nose and eyes, while asthma affects the airways and breathing.
Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, happens when your immune system reacts to an allergen such as pollen. Common symptoms include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, and an itchy nose or throat.
Asthma affects the airways. Typical symptoms include:
- wheezing or a whistling sound when breathing
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- a tight feeling in the chest.
Asthma symptoms can vary from person to person and may come and go. Some people notice them more at night, during exercise, with viral infections or after exposure to particular triggers such as pollen.
The important point is that you can have hay fever, asthma, or both. In fact, people with seasonal hay fever can be at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma during grass pollen season.
Can hay fever cause breathing problems?
It can.
Hay fever itself usually produces symptoms in the nose and eyes, but pollen can also affect the lungs and trigger asthma symptoms in susceptible people. Healthdirect notes that pollen can cause inflammation in the lungs and lead to asthma symptoms, including wheezing and coughing.
This is why persistent coughing or breathlessness during spring should not automatically be blamed on allergies.
For example, you might notice:
Hay fever:
Sneezing → itchy eyes → runny nose → congestion.
Possible asthma symptoms:
Wheezing → chest tightness → breathlessness → persistent cough.
Some people experience both sets of symptoms at the same time.
If you regularly become short of breath when you are outdoors, wake during the night with a cough, or notice wheezing during spring, it is worth discussing these symptoms with your doctor rather than simply increasing your allergy medication.
Can pollen trigger asthma?
Yes. Pollen is a recognised asthma trigger for some people.
During spring, grass pollen becomes particularly important in Victoria. The Victorian grass pollen season generally runs from 1 October to 31 December, and Melbourne’s long-term pollen data shows that the highest pollen levels begin, on average, around mid-October, although conditions vary from year to year.
There is also some reason to pay attention to the 2026 season. Melbourne Pollen’s September 2026 seasonal outlook suggested that Melbourne and parts of western and central Victoria could experience a more active grass pollen season than the previous year, with the potential for higher pollen days later in October and November.
That does not mean every day will have high pollen levels. Pollen counts can change significantly with weather conditions, so checking current local forecasts is more useful than assuming the entire season will be the same.
What is thunderstorm asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma sounds unusual until you understand what happens in the air.
During certain thunderstorms, strong winds and weather conditions can cause grass pollen grains to break apart into much smaller particles. These particles can travel deeper into the lungs and trigger asthma symptoms.
The risk is particularly important for people who have:
- seasonal hay fever, especially related to grass pollen
- current asthma
- a previous history of asthma
- asthma symptoms that have never formally been diagnosed.
You do not necessarily need to have a previous asthma diagnosis to be affected. People with seasonal hay fever can also experience asthma symptoms during a thunderstorm asthma event.
Victoria has a dedicated epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast during the grass pollen season, running from 1 October to 31 December. Forecast information is published through VicEmergency and changes according to weather and pollen conditions.
What are the symptoms of thunderstorm asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma symptoms can develop quickly.
Watch for:
Wheezing – a whistling sound when breathing.
Shortness of breath – feeling unable to get enough air.
Chest tightness – a sensation that your chest is constricted or heavy.
Persistent coughing – particularly when it occurs alongside breathing difficulty.
These are also common symptoms of an asthma flare-up, so the important factor is how suddenly they develop and whether they are affecting your ability to breathe normally.
Recent advice from Victorian health services is particularly timely as spring pollen season gets underway. Monash Health has urged people with asthma, hay fever and grass-pollen allergies to prepare for the risk of thunderstorm asthma during spring and early summer.
How can you reduce your exposure to pollen?
You cannot completely avoid pollen during spring, but a few practical habits can reduce your exposure.
Check the daily pollen forecast, particularly if you know that pollen triggers your symptoms. On days with high pollen, consider limiting outdoor exposure, especially in windy conditions and thunderstorms.
Keeping windows and doors closed during high-risk periods can also reduce the amount of pollen entering your home. Health authorities also recommend staying indoors around thunderstorms during pollen season, particularly during the windy period before the rain arrives.
After spending a lot of time outdoors, showering and changing clothes can also help remove pollen from your skin and clothing.
If your symptoms are becoming difficult to manage, talk to a GP or pharmacist about appropriate treatment rather than trying to manage persistent breathing symptoms on your own.
What about hay fever treatment?
Treatment depends on your symptoms and your individual health needs.
For hay fever, commonly used treatments include antihistamines and corticosteroid nasal sprays. Saline nasal sprays may also help with nasal symptoms. Healthdirect recommends discussing the most suitable option with a doctor or pharmacist, particularly when symptoms are persistent or treatment is not working well.
The approach is different when asthma is involved. Asthma requires appropriate assessment and management, and your doctor may recommend treatment, monitoring and an asthma action plan based on your symptoms and diagnosis.
This is one reason it is important not to assume that every cough or breathing problem during spring is simply hay fever.
When should you see a GP?
Make an appointment with your GP if:
- You repeatedly wheeze or cough during spring
- You become short of breath around pollen
- Your hay fever is interfering with sleep, work, exercise or everyday activities
- Your usual hay fever treatment is not controlling your symptoms
- You have experienced breathing symptoms for the first time
- You have asthma and feel that your current management is not keeping your symptoms under control.
A GP can discuss your symptoms, medical history and possible triggers. Where appropriate, they may assess your breathing and arrange further testing or referral.
There is no single test that diagnoses every case of asthma. Lung function testing such as spirometry may form part of an asthma assessment.
For people already living with asthma, regular reviews are also important because symptoms and treatment needs can change over time. Healthdirect recommends regular asthma reviews, with more frequent reviews when circumstances such as a recent treatment change or severe asthma make it necessary.
What should you do before a thunderstorm?
Preparation is much easier when you are feeling well.
If you have asthma or significant seasonal hay fever, consider making a plan before the grass pollen season reaches its peak.
Check local pollen and weather forecasts. Keep prescribed medicines available and make sure you understand how and when to use them. If you have an asthma action plan, make sure it is current and that you know what to do if your symptoms worsen.
During a high-risk thunderstorm period, stay indoors where possible and close windows and doors. Victoria’s thunderstorm asthma forecast can be monitored through VicEmergency.
Good asthma control throughout the year is also an important part of preparation.
When is breathing difficulty an emergency?
Severe breathing difficulty should always be taken seriously.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you or someone around you is having severe difficulty breathing or showing signs of a severe asthma attack. Do not wait for symptoms to become worse.
For someone with known asthma, follow their written Asthma Action Plan or asthma first-aid instructions while waiting for emergency assistance.
If someone develops significant breathing symptoms for the first time, particularly during or around a thunderstorm, they should also receive medical assessment.
Spring allergies are common, but breathing problems should not simply be written off as “just hay fever”.
If you experience a runny nose and itchy eyes every spring, pollen may well be responsible. But if you are also wheezing, coughing, experiencing chest tightness or becoming short of breath, it is worth finding out whether asthma could be part of the picture.
For Melbourne residents, grass pollen season is an important time to understand your triggers, monitor pollen and weather conditions, and make sure any existing asthma is well managed. And with Victoria’s thunderstorm asthma risk forecast running through the spring and early summer season, being prepared is much better than being caught by surprise.
If you are concerned about seasonal allergies, asthma symptoms, or changes in your breathing, Group One Medical provides GP consultations and ongoing asthma and respiratory disease management in Epping.
Group One Medical
878 Edgars Road, Epping, VIC 3076
Serving the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne with whole-family healthcare.