Nope, it's not too early for springtime allergies

People are sneezing, their eyes are itching, and they're as congested as a Los Angeles freeway at rush hour.

Isn't it a little early for springtime allergies? Maybe not, allergy experts say.

Across the country, allergy seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer, says Rita Kachru, an assistant professor of allergy and immunology at UCLA. She says experts have been debating the reasons for this phenomenon for several years. 

Southern California is not exempt from this blurring of allergy seasons, since "seasonality is always questionable" here, says Dr. Jonathan Tam, medical director of The Gores Family Allergy Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Tam says something is almost always blooming here, and that leads to prolonged allergy seasons.

At the same time, Southern California's pollen counts are higher than what is normal for February, he says.

The pollination may be "slightly earlier" than usual, says Tam, and "it might be heavier in terms of pollen density." He blames this in part on the recent El Niño-related wet weather and the current heat wave.

Recent hot, dry Santa Ana winds have also kicked up pollen, Kachru says.

Here's another reason a lot of people might have the sniffles right now: The flu and other respiratory viruses are circulating, Tam says, and sometimes their symptoms mimic those of allergies.

"We're seeing a lot of that overlap right now – that cold and flu season overlapping with this uptick in pollens," he says.

The bad news, Tam says, is unless the weather turns cold again, this allergy season could be around for a while.

Listeners share their stories

We've been texting with you asking about your allergies this season. Turns out, dozens who responded to our query have the sniffles right now. (Yes, we text. And we'll send you a message if you send "RAIN" to 323-924-6509.)

• "My husband usually has allergy-triggered asthma in the fall, but this year experienced it in February, which is really unusual." —Leslie L. in Altadena
• "The unusually hot and dry weather has actually triggered nosebleeds for me. I haven't had those since the cold, dry days of living in Wisconsin!" —A source in Aliso Viejo
• "The change in weather has amped up this runny nose of mine. I step out of my air conditioned office and immediately have a runny nose." —A source in East LA
• "My wife can't step foot in out backyard. With the orange tree blossoming, it's horrible for her. I, on the other hand, could live in the tree. It smells amazing!" —A source in Los Angeles

• "Funny, I was just talking about that with a friend. Mine are only mildly annoying itchy, red eyes but my friend texted me this: 'Anybody else have allergies flared up? Ugh. For the past week, my nose is clogged & runny and my throat is all itchy. It's driving me insane! My poor nose is all dried and cracked from blowing my nose.'" — Olaf in Los Angeles

How are you coping with the sniffles? To share your complaints, remedies and stories with us, tweet us, post to our Facebook page or text RAIN to 323-924-6509.