Think Your Allergies Are Gone Now That It Snowed in MN? Think Again

If you were thinking that your fall allergies would go away now that Minnesota's seen its first snow, think again.

I don't know about you, but I've been suffering through a particularly sneezy fall allergy season. I don't get bothered much by seasonal allergies in the spring (when pollen from all the blooming plants and trees can be a trigger for some of us) or even summer-- unless it's been pretty dry when I mow the lawn.

But it's in the fall here in Minnesota when I notice the sneezing and watery eyes start making a comeback. Some years are better than others, but this year it was bad enough that I had to go back on my once-a-day allergy meds. I'd heard that once we get a hard frost, things would be better. Of course, that didn't happen early this year.

So, when the snow started falling Tuesday, I thought, hey-- at least my fall allergies will be gone, right? Wrong. At least, that's the word I found from this WebMD story that says once the temperature drops, the wind picks up and the snow falls, there could be a whole new set of allergy triggers here in Minnesota. So what's up with new allergies here in the cold weather season? WebMD explains:

The reason is simple: Many of those same warm-weather irritants are around all year, like pet dander, mold, and mildew. And once you settle indoors for the chilly holiday season -- the windows closed, the heater on -- your exposure to these allergen can spike.

Heck, WebMD even says that firewood we bring in to create a warm, crackling fire in the fireplace on a cold Minnesota fall evening could be a trigger-- if you're allergic to mold spores, which find the damp wood a perfect place to camp out. You can read more about what causes winter allergies-- and how to treat them-- HERE.

And speaking of our now-early-arriving winter, are you stocked up for the long haul? Keep scrolling to take a look at some things experts say might be in short supply this season-- so you can grab them now before they're gone.

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