The peak in tree and pine pollen typically occurs in late March or early to mid-April in North Carolina, according to Shawn Taylor from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality. The record-breaking pollen count is expected to exceed 5,000 grains per cubic meter in 2024. This is due to climate change, which is attributed to longer growing seasons and increased plant growth and reproduction. Most of North Carolina has been experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions, particularly in February when many locations saw their driest six months on record. The good news is that tree pollen returns in late April and May, but beware of grass pollen that lasts into early summer.