Mild winter helps kick start early allergy season

NEW YORK (WABC) -- If your eyes are already started to itch and you can't stop sneezing, you're not alone. The mild winter weather has kick-started an early allergy season.

Tree pollen counts are already up across the US, and it's only February. That's because places that would normally be covered under snow and ice are seeing rain and blooming trees.

Dr. Jordan Josephson says many patients are caught off guard wondering whether they have a cold or early-season allergies.

It is not necessarily how warm it gets, but the consistency. And in Central Park, we've had with 14 days above average.

One way you can help is to keep your windows closed to avoid getting pollen inside your home, but the most unfortunate aspect is that just because the season started early doesn't mean it will end earlier than usual.