Suffering from spring allergies?
You can blame certain trees' pollen but not yellow pine pollen.
Lexington County’s top allergens are juniper, elm and alder. 
The pollen you can’t see is the pollen that causes your allergic reactions.
On the other hand, pine pollen is larger and produces a yellow coat outdoors in early March.
A complicated formula will help you figure when Lexington County will be flooded with the yellow stuff.
According to Dr. Robert Bardon, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State, to figure out when the pine pollen season will begin, you estimate the number of degree-days above 55° after Feb. 1.
To find the degree-days, add the positive differences between the daily high temperatures and 55° each day.
When the total degree-days add up to about 300 degree-days, you will see the pines release their pollen.
When the total degree-days reach 636, pine pollen production has hit its peak and it will decrease.
The 2019 pine pollen season started on Feb. 27 and in 2020 on March 8.
Of course, the formula is not perfect. 
Pine pollen can vary in different areas. 
Weather conditions also play a role. 
A rainy spring or late frost can reduce the amount of pine pollen in the air.
As of last week, we were up to 125 degree-days, a little behind schedule.
But in March, a yellow coating will soon be on everything.