30 second read
For a description of this syndrome and explanation of weather maps, see previous post.
High risk:
- Mid-October to Mid-December, highest risk in November
- Spring hay fever
- Usually past or present asthma, or very slight chest symptoms in spring, often disregarded. Many have NO past history of asthma or chest symptoms
- Weather patterns about 12 hours before onset as shown in these two examples:
Note that the patterns are very similar, almost identical:
24 November 2010
5PM WED 24 NOV 2010: Weather moves from West to East. High Pressure system East of Australia, winds flow anticlockwise so the western part of the high is a northerly airstream from Queensland to Melbourne. Dotted line just west of Adelaide is a trough with a cold front behind it.
21 November 2016
11AM 21 NOV 2016: Weather moves from West to east. High Pressure system East of Australia, winds flow anticlockwise so the western part of the high is a northerly airstream from Queensland to Melbourne. Dotted line just west of Adelaide is a trough with a cold front behind it.
5. From mid-October to mid-December, these are high risk weather systems for thunderstorm asthma. Note that there may be 4-6 such systems per year at this time, and most pass without incident. Note that other weather scenarios, as yet unidentified, may be important.
6. Expert task forces will certainly modify this description and develop an early warning protocol.
Please read advice on what to do here (last paragraph)
Please read tips from expert Dr Michael Sutherland, Melbourne allergist here
