Millions of Brits are being told to prepare as a combination of thunderstorms and a high pollen count are set to combine and create the weather phenomenon “thunder fever” this week.
According to weather forecasters, the remnants of tropical storm Alex – which notably brought flooding to southern Florida earlier this month – will track across the Atlantic over the next few days and arrive on UK shores, bringing unseasonably strong winds of up to 55mph and thundery showers along with it.
The predicted wind and rain, together with warm temperatures and a high pollen count, has now prompted warnings for hay fever sufferers nationwide.
“Thunderstorms bring problems for hay fever sufferers,” said allergens expert Max Wiseberg.
“Very high pollen counts are predicted across many parts of England from Thursday onwards causing havoc for the millions of hay fever sufferers in the UK [and] predicted thunderstorms won’t give respite either, as instead they can cause a phenomenon known as ‘thunder fever’.”
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But what actually is ‘thunder fever’ then?
Have you been sneezing recently?
Very high pollen levels are expected across parts of England and Wales later in the week, as we near a peak in the grass pollen season 🤧 pic.twitter.com/XG3xcowmbE
Well, to put it simply, ‘thunder fever’ is just an extreme form of extreme hay fever.
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Hay fever – which is also known by the medical term allergic rhinitis – is triggered when our immune systems mistake airborne particles, such as pollen, for a harmful pathogen, and this usually causes a number of unpleasant symptoms for sufferers, including inflammation of the airways, constant sneezing, and watering eyes.
Giving more of an insight into the weather phenomenon, Mr Wiseberg continued: “According to a report in The European Respiratory review, humidity breaks pollen grains into smaller allergenic particles [and] these new pollen grains turn into a kind of ‘super pollen’.
“This appears to be more allergenic than normal pollen, causing more severe reactions in sufferers.
“Storms bring pollen grains down which might have otherwise risen above head height out of harm’s way and whipping up pollen grains and fungal spores near the ground.”
The Met Office is predicting that the former tropical storm will be heading far north west of the UK on Thursday and Friday, but deputy chief meteorologist Adam Thornhill admits that the details “are still being worked out”.
Winds could be around 45mph for most in the north of the UK, with a chance of some gusts in excess of 55mph in some exposed island and coastal areas.
Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
8th June 2022 
