Say hello to the sniffles and sneezes! Yes, that time of year, allergy season. Experts fear we could be in for an unusually bad pollen season because of the recent snow and rain.

Late-winter cold temperatures and scattered rain last week kept pollen counts dancing in and out of the high range. However, with warmer temperatures this week pollen season is now underway.

The pollen count reached 188 on Monday with the major contributors being tree pollen.

Dr. Stanley Fineman with the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic says, “We’re concerned because I think we may be in store for much higher pollen counts in the next few weeks."

Many people are going to the doctor thinking they have a virus, a cold or even the flu, when in fact they are suffering from allergies.

Fineman says it can be hard to tell the difference. He says cold symptoms usually last about a week, and with allergies they last longer and include sneezing and itching.