Recently, Beijing released its first poplar and willow catkins forecast for this year. When will the catkin season start? Where are flying catkins abundant? And how to protect yourself from catkins? Don't worry, please use this guide for precautions!

High-Incidence Periods of Poplar and Willow Catkins

First peak period: Early April

Primarily affected zones: Urban districts within the Fifth Ring Road

Second peak period: Late April to Early May

Main impacted areas: urban areas and plains

Third peak period: Mid-May

Principal concentration zones: mountainous regions.

Notice: The daily peak period of flying catkins is between 10:00 and 16:00!

Protection Measures against Poplar and Willow Catkins

1. Take protection measures when going out. Disposable dust masks, sunglasses, goggles, and windproof scarves can all effectively block flying catkins.

2. When engaging in outdoor activities such as physical exercise, please choose, if possible, the time when there are less catkins floating in the air, such as in the morning, evening, or after rain.

3. Be sure to close window screens to prevent flying catkins from entering your room. Catkins indoors can be promptly vacuumed or swept after being sprayed with water.

4. Intensify inspections of vehicles and precision instruments, and clean up any accumulated catkins at once.

5. After returning home from outdoors, wash your face with clean water in a timely manner and use normal saline to clean your nose and mouth.

There is no research indicating that catkins can cause allergies. If you experience allergic symptoms, you should seek medical attention promptly and check for the allergens. Additionally, as the climate is dry in spring, flying catkins can cause irritability. Be sure to adjust your emotions and maintain a healthy and peaceful state of mind.

(Sources: Official Weibo account for Pollen Monitoring and Forecast, Beijing Meteorological Service)