It may come as no surprise to those suffering hay fever in Canberra that this year's pollen season has been the most extreme on record.
Three La Niña weather events in a row have created the "perfect storm" for grass, weed and tree pollen production.
And with Canberra already the "hay fever capital of Australia", it has left even more people reaching for tissues and antihistamines.
"This year's been unprecedented in terms of the length of the grass season and the intensity of the grass season," researcher Ben Keaney from the Canberra Pollen research project said.
"We thought last year was unprecedented and then what's happened this year, the levels are higher, it's gone longer and it's later in the season.
"We could not have predicted just how bad this season was going to be. It took us by surprise to be honest."
The Canberra Pollen research project, run through the Australian National University and supported by ACT Health, provides a daily pollen count and forecast of grass pollen levels in the air around the city.
In an average year, researchers would record about five extreme pollen days.
But this year, more than 30 extreme days have already been recorded — the worst season since records began 11 years ago.
Until yesterday, there had been 16 extreme grass pollen days in a row.
And although yesterday's rain saw today's pollen level drop to high, levels are likely to remain high or extreme until early January.
"At this stage, it will be early January before we start to get a respite, whereas normally it would be early to mid-December," Dr Keaney said.
"[The season] has run another month."
'It hit me with a vengeance'
The ACT has the highest rate of hay fever sufferers in the country, with one-in-three people likely to be affected, compared to one-in-five nationally.
One Canberran who's been finding this season particularly difficult is author Marg Wade.
"It hit me with a vengeance, particularly with the wind," she said.
"Streaming eyes, the runny nose, and the itching in the throat.
"It's really exhausting — hay fever makes you really tired."
Ms Wade said on windy days she had no choice but to stay indoors.
"I've been really quite sick with hay fever, fortunately I was able to work from home, that was the saving grace to curb the cycle," she said.
More first-time hay fever sufferers
The season has been so severe that GPs like Dr Joe Oguns are seeing many more first-time hay fever sufferers.
"Some people that haven't previously had symptoms are presenting with eye, nasal and asthma symptoms and also some that have had milder symptoms in the past are presenting with a bit more severe symptoms quite recently," he said.
"And we've seen some patients who haven't been symptomatic for five or 10 years are suddenly now presenting with symptoms of hay fever or even a flare-up of asthma."
Dr Oguns said those with known hay fever or asthma should limit exposure as much as possible and try staying indoors on windy or stormy days.
"If you cannot avoid exposure then you want to put on a mask," he said.
"If you have been exposed and you do know you have a history, then have a shower as quickly as possible, wash the face.
"For those with moderate or more severe symptoms, talk to a doctor or pharmacist about medicines like antihistamines and if there is an existing history of asthma then certainly getting an updated asthma action plan … and carrying an inhaler around just in case they develop symptoms."
Unfortunately for those suffering severe hay fever, seasons like this year's are likely to become more frequent in Canberra as the climate changes.
"It won't necessarily be every year that we're looking at these sort of extreme pollen events, but that these will become more and more common," Dr Keaney said.
"If we are looking at more consecutive La Niña events, then we are going to be looking at more pollen seasons like the one we currently have."
