The grass pollen season runs from October 1 to December 31 and brings an increased chance of thunderstorm asthma, particularly for those who experience hay fever or have a history of asthma.

Asthma Australia experts say now is the time, this Asthma Awareness Week, to check in with your general practitioner or pharmacist to ensure you have a plan in place including preventer medication. Experts also suggest everyone downloads and gets familiar with a pollen monitoring app AusPollen to help avoid exposure on high pollen days.

Creswick will once again be a key catchment area for monitoring grass pollen forecasts, weather observations and data including wind changes, temperature, rainfall and grass coverage.

The monitoring station, under the close watch of University of Melbourne PhD candidates, was set up as part of the state government response to the thunderstorm asthma epidemic in which 10 people died and thousands were hospitalised in 2016. Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital all-but-ran out of ventolin with extra supplies sought from pharmacies for people experiencing breathing difficulties.

A thunderstorm asthma outbreak occurs when storms pick up tiny allergenic pollen fragments, which penetrated deep into people's lungs when conditions were dry and hot. Thunderstorm asthma, while rare, can affect the breathing of people who may not have experienced asthma before.

Asthma Australia experts say pollen allergies can be far more serious than many expect and this was why it was vital to be prepared. Triggers can vary from cold and flu to dust mites, smoke, exercise and pollen.

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