This year marks 10 years since the world’s largest and most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne on 21 November 2016.

Ten people lost their lives and several thousand people experienced breathing difficulties, including people with asthma or a past history of asthma, those with undiagnosed asthma and also people with hay fever who had not ever had asthma.

This year, the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) is reminding Victorians to protect themselves and their loved ones from the risk of thunderstorm asthma during the grass pollen season.

Grass pollen season typically runs from the start of October until the end of December and brings with it a seasonal increase in asthma and hay fever and the chance of thunderstorm asthma.

National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson and respiratory physician Professor Peter Wark said the best defence that Victorians with allergies and asthma can have as they head into pollen and thunderstorm asthma season is good day to day control of their asthma.

“Asthma management guidelines have changed in the latest update of the National Asthma Council’s Australian Asthma Handbook and it is essential that adults and adolescents with asthma receive a correct diagnosis and receive treatment with an anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid-containing regimen.

“The recommendation is now for anti-inflammatory reliever therapy (with budesonide/formoterol) as needed in those with mild asthma. Or maintenance and reliever therapy (inhaled corticosteroid/formoterol), regularly and as needed. This provides the best protection for most people with asthma against acute attacks.

“The aim of your asthma treatment should be to maintain good control of asthma symptoms and prevent flare-ups and using an anti-inflammatory reliever is the best way to achieve this.

“Relying only on a blue puffer, or needing it often, means you are at risk of severe asthma attacks, emergency department visits and hospital stays,” he said. 

Professor Wark said the advice for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over with asthma is to carry their anti-inflammatory reliever at all times and use it when they experience difficulty breathing, or before exercise, if needed.

“Now is the time to check in with your GP and ensure you are on the best treatment to control your asthma and to update your written asthma action plan so you know what to do during a spring thunderstorm or asthma emergency.

“Even people with hay fever who have never had asthma should see their GP if they experience symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. These symptoms do not occur with hay fever alone,” he said.

Dr Edwin Lampugnani, CEO of AirHealth, operator of the Melbourne Pollen service, said the 2026 Victorian grass pollen season has the potential to be more active than last year, particularly across western and central Victoria.

“Victoria has experienced its wettest winter since 2016 and its warmest winter on record, while current soil-moisture and vegetation imagery show that grasses across many of the state’s major pasture districts have had a much stronger start than last year,” he said.

He added that parts of NSW could be heading for a much bigger grass pollen season than last year.

“Wetter soils and stronger green growth have given grasses a head start. If that moisture lasts through September and into flowering, Wagga Wagga, Albury and surrounding communities could see significant amounts of grass pollen in the air. The key question is when the dry conditions arrive and how long the dry conditions remain in place,” he said.

Professor Wark said that people with hay fever and allergy to ryegrass pollen may be at risk of thunderstorm asthma – even if they have never had asthma symptoms before.

“People that are allergic to ryegrass pollen and have asthma could have a severe asthma attack if outside in gusty winds just before or during a thunderstorm in spring or early summer in a place where there is ryegrass pollen in the air. This includes most of south-eastern Australia,” he said.

If you have hay fever, Professor Wark advises that regular use of a nasal corticosteroid spray (a preventer for the nose) either alone or in combination with an antihistamine every day, at least during pollen season, is the best treatment to control allergy symptoms.

“If you have hay fever and asthma, treating your hay fever can also improve your asthma.

“Hay fever can cause upper and lower airway inflammation and result in itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, but even more concerning, hay fever can lead to an increased risk of serious asthma flare-ups,” he said.

Refer to the Thunderstorm asthma fact sheet or nationalasthma.org.au for more information.

Pollen forecasts are available here

For further information or an interview with a National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson, please contact:

Donna Le Page, Le Page PR

Mobile: 0429 825 703 or Email: donna@lepage-pr.com.au

The National Asthma Council Australia is a collaboration of four member organisations (APNA, ASCIA, PSA and RACGP) and the national trusted authority for asthma knowledge. We set and disseminate the standards for asthma care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines – the Australian Asthma Handbook and resources for primary health care professionals. Our Sensitive Choice program empowers consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services.