As south-eastern Australia braces for its notorious thunderstorm asthma season, health authorities are urging residents with asthma or hay fever to take urgent precautions. The region, known for its springtime surges in grass pollen, faces a heightened risk each year when thunderstorms strike and transform ordinary pollen into a potentially deadly airborne hazard.
On October 5, 2025, Asthma Australia sounded the alarm, calling on vulnerable individuals to act now. According to Asthma Australia, thunderstorm asthma events are a well-documented threat in this part of the country, where grass pollen typically peaks in November. The unique meteorological phenomenon occurs when rain and moisture cause pollen grains to absorb water and rupture into tiny sub-pollen particles (SPPs). Storm-driven winds then push these microscopic particles down to ground level, making them easy for people to inhale—sometimes with catastrophic consequences.
Dr. Chris Pearce, a general practitioner and Asthma Australia Board Member, laid out the risks in stark terms. “For people with asthma, thunderstorm asthma can escalate quickly and be life-threatening. Now is the time to check your asthma control with your GP, use your preventer as recommended and make sure you have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan, which formalises how to manage asthma and what to do if symptoms worsen,” he advised, as reported by Asthma Australia.
The warning comes as Victorian health authorities roll out six new automated pollen counters across the state, aiming to improve the accuracy and timeliness of thunderstorm asthma forecasts. According to 9News, these high-tech devices are designed to give real-time data on pollen concentrations, which, when combined with weather information, can help predict dangerous conditions before they strike. The move is a direct response to the devastating 2016 Melbourne thunderstorm asthma event, which saw more than 3,500 people seek emergency care and resulted in 10 deaths as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Australian Medical Association President Dr. Tony Bartone explained to 9News just how insidious thunderstorm asthma can be. “You can get really grass pollens being really sent for long distances and exposed to the environmental triggers,” he said. “And they can get very get really deep into the lungs of asthma sufferers in particular, and bring on fairly serious asthma episodes.” The tiny particles produced during thunderstorms penetrate deeper into the lungs than regular pollen, dramatically increasing the risk of severe attacks.
What makes thunderstorm asthma so alarming is that it does not only affect those with a formal asthma diagnosis. In the 2016 event, almost half of those who presented to hospitals had symptoms suggestive of asthma but had never been diagnosed. Dr. Pearce highlighted this hidden risk, noting, “People with hay fever can also be affected during thunderstorm asthma events, even if they’ve never been diagnosed with asthma. Those who are sensitive to grass pollen, or wheeze and cough at night or get short of breath when grass pollen is high should prioritise seeing their GP to make sure they are assessed for asthma.”
Dr. Bartone reinforced the message that preparation is key. “It’s about being prepared for those days and understanding what are your triggers,” he stated. “How to use your puffers or your other reliever medication or your preventer medication regularly and appropriately if you’re susceptible. And having an understanding of the action plan that you put into place.” He also stressed the importance of acting quickly at the first sign of symptoms: “Understanding the signs and acting early if you are feeling tight, if you’re feeling short of breath, if you’ve got that cough, if you’ve got that wheeze, they’re the signs that you’re experiencing an asthma episode.”
For those accustomed to relying solely on a blue reliever inhaler, Dr. Pearce and Asthma Australia urge a change in approach. “The latest asthma guidelines recommend against relying on a blue reliever inhaler alone. Anti-inflammatory relievers containing both a preventer and reliever medicine are now recommended in place of the blue reliever alone,” Dr. Pearce advised. This shift in best practice is designed to reduce the likelihood of severe attacks by ensuring ongoing inflammation is managed, not just acute symptoms.
People with hay fever are also being urged to take their condition seriously. Dr. Bartone pointed out the significant overlap between hay fever and asthma sufferers during this time of year, when pollen counts are at their highest. “This is the time of year where we have a lots of people complaining [about] the streaming eyes, the runny nose, the sneezing, it’s the high pollen counts,” he observed. “But there are other triggers for hay fever as well that sufferers suffer from.” The message is clear: even those who only experience hay fever symptoms should be vigilant, as they too are at risk during thunderstorm asthma events.
Asthma Australia has issued a series of recommendations for Victorians and others in high-risk regions to help them prepare:
- Check your asthma control by booking a review with your GP.
- Ensure you use your preventer medication daily as prescribed.
- Have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan, which sets out what to do if symptoms worsen.
- Keep your reliever inhaler close by at all times.
- Manage hay fever with recommended treatments, including nasal steroids, to reduce sensitivity to pollen.
- Stay informed daily by checking the National Pollen Forecast Service (PollenForecast.com.au) and the AirRater app (airrater.org), both of which provide real-time forecasts and warnings.
- On high pollen and storm days, stay indoors where possible, close windows and doors, and keep your reliever inhaler handy.
The rollout of automated pollen counters is expected to make a significant difference in public health messaging and individual preparedness. By providing more precise and timely warnings, authorities hope to prevent a repeat of tragedies like the 2016 event. However, as Dr. Bartone cautioned, technology is only one part of the solution. “Asthma sufferers need to have their own plans in place,” he emphasized, underlining the importance of personal responsibility and awareness.
As the region heads into its highest-risk period, the message from health authorities is unequivocal: preparation can save lives. Whether you have a formal asthma diagnosis, experience hay fever, or simply find yourself short of breath during high pollen days, now is the time to take action. With improved forecasting tools and clear guidelines, Victorians have more resources than ever to protect themselves—but the onus remains on individuals to heed the warnings and act early. The stakes, as history has shown, could not be higher.
