In British Columbia the allergy season started early and aggressively due to a warm winter and climate change. The coast is expecting several days of rain from an atmospheric river, which could cause localized flooding. At the same time, the province’s housing market is experiencing a downturn: in February sales and average prices fell in almost every region.
Allergy season in British Columbia is becoming harsher
If you’ve been sneezing, coughing and dealing with a scratchy throat in recent weeks, you’re likely not alone. This year allergy season in southern British Columbia began unusually early and aggressively, and researchers say this trend will only worsen due to climate change.
According to Aerobiology Research Laboratories, which collect pollen data, the allergy season in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island began earlier than usual. As Daniel Coates, the lab director, explained in an interview with CityNews Vancouver, high pollen levels in late January or early February are typical, but this year the situation progressed at an unusual pace. Pollen concentrations rose rapidly from low to high within weeks. There is a large amount of alder and cedar pollen in the air, along with low-to-moderate levels of willow, elm and hazel pollen. Alder pollen in particular is highly allergenic and problematic for many sufferers.
The trigger for this sharp start was an anomalously warm winter in the region. Pollen, Coates explains, “likes warm weather,” and the warmth became the catalyst for its early and massive release. However, this is not just a random anomaly but part of a long-term worrying trend directly linked to climate change. The researcher notes that while pollen levels fluctuate year to year like a business cycle, the overall trend over the past three decades shows a steady increase. Airborne pollen has nearly doubled since the early 1990s and is projected to quadruple over the next thirty years.
This increase correlates directly with rising temperatures. Coates emphasizes the importance of understanding the long-term trend rather than isolated cool days: it is long-term warming that drives the pollen increase. Heat and sunlight are required to trigger pollen release, signaling plants to begin their growth cycle. As a result, not only are pollen concentrations higher, but the allergy season is noticeably lengthening and shifting. Traditional timeframes—for example, birch pollen from April 1 to May 15—are no longer reliable: everything now starts earlier, ends later and lasts longer.
The public health consequences are growing more serious. Because there is no “cure” for seasonal allergies, only symptom relief, sufferers will have to endure more intense and prolonged periods of discomfort. Data also show the number of people affected by allergies is increasing. As practical advice, the researcher recommends allergy sufferers monitor daily pollen counts, wear a mask outdoors during peak periods, wipe pets’ paws to avoid bringing pollen into the home, avoid drying laundry outside, and keep windows closed when allergen concentrations are high.
Thus, the early and intense start to allergy season in British Columbia this year is not an isolated incident but a visible manifestation of a long-term crisis. Climate change is already here, expressed not only in melting glaciers but also in our own airways, making life increasingly uncomfortable for millions each year. Experts say relief is unlikely — the trend points to a worsening situation.
A river in the sky is coming: an atmospheric river will bring days of rain to BC’s south coast
While Vancouver residents enjoy the last rays of pre-weekend sun, meteorologists warn of a sharp change in the weather. On Sunday, March 15, a powerful moisture stream known as an atmospheric river will hit the south coast of British Columbia and will dominate the region’s weather through mid next week. According to a forecast published on Vancouver Is Awesome, the event could lead to localized flooding, although no official storm warnings have been issued so far.
An atmospheric river is not a metaphor but a specific meteorological term describing a long, narrow corridor of very moist air that, like a river in the sky, transports huge amounts of water vapor from the tropics to temperate latitudes. When that flow encounters mountain ranges, as it does on British Columbia’s coast, moisture falls out as prolonged, intense precipitation. That is the situation expected in the coming days. Environment Canada meteorologist Terry Lang explains that because the rain will stretch over several days—from Sunday through Wednesday—the agency will likely issue a special weather bulletin rather than a full warning, which is typically used for shorter but more intense downpours.
Vancouver Island will take the brunt of the system, which Lang calls the “first line of defense,” as it is the first to meet moist air masses from the Pacific. But the Metro Vancouver area will not be spared. Rain is expected to begin in the Lower Mainland on Sunday afternoon. Total precipitation over the event could range from 80 to 100 millimeters, which is significant. One key nuance: at the start of the event on Sunday, higher elevations may see wet snow because residual cold air remains there. Snow is not expected at sea level.
One major consequence will be the risk of localized flooding, particularly near culverts and along creeks. This is due less to record hourly intensity than to the event’s duration, which will gradually saturate soils and overwhelm drainage systems. Residents are advised to prepare for these conditions. Thus, brief sunny breaks on Saturday will be only a lull before several days of unsettled, rainy weather that again underscores the Pacific Ocean’s strong influence on the West Coast of Canada’s climate.
British Columbia housing market dips in February
A review of British Columbia’s real estate market shows a worrying trend: February was a month of broad weakness. According to data from real estate associations, sales fell in almost every region of the province, reflecting persistent market challenges.
British Columbia’s housing market continues to show signs of stagnation, and the February numbers confirmed that trend. The B.C. Real Estate Association reports that just over 4,500 residential properties were sold provincewide last month, nearly 10% fewer than the same period a year earlier. The decline affected not only transaction counts but also price metrics. The average MLS (Multiple Listing Service) home price fell 2.9% to about CAD 932,000. Total sales dollar volume dropped even more—down 12.3% to CAD 4.21 billion.
The association’s chief economist, Brandon Ogmundson, expressed hope that the situation could improve. He noted the sector is counting on “improved affordability conditions in most regions and stable interest rates to motivate potential demand to enter the market” and boost sales in the remainder of 2026. However, the current statistics tell a different story. The steepest declines in unit sales were recorded in Port Moody (Powell River), where sales collapsed by nearly 35%. That was followed by Chilliwack with a 31% drop and the Kootenays region, where sales fell 29%. Even the province’s largest market, Greater Vancouver, was not immune: just over 1,600 properties were sold there, about 9% fewer than a year earlier.
These figures point to systemic problems. A modest drop in average price alongside a sharp fall in sales volumes may signal weakening buyer demand and potential inventory buildup. Persistently high interest rates, though described by the economist as “stable,” remain a significant barrier for many prospective buyers, especially in lower-income regions. A report published by The Canadian Press on March 12, 2026, emphasizes that the current downturn is not a local phenomenon but provincewide. Whether the forecasted recovery in demand during the year materializes will depend directly on the Bank of Canada’s rate trajectory and the broader economic conditions affecting consumer confidence.
