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.
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
All three Pet Classics programmes will be broadcast from 5pm to 10pm, and you can listen on Classic FM or Global Player available across the UK.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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What is the UK’s national dish? New survey reveals Brits’ pick in landslide victory
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve ever thought to Google the question ‘what is Britain’s national dish?’, then you probably came away thinking it’s chicken tikka masala.
But is that actually the truth? A new survey has disproved the claim, massively.
There’s no denying that chicken tikka masala – an Indian curry that’s actually widely thought to have been created in Britain – is a popular dish that’s loved by many, but despite what many headlines have claimed over the years, a new YouGov survey has revealed it’s not what Brits consider to be the country’s ‘national dish’.
YouGov conducted two online surveys earlier this month, made up of 2,079 and 2,104 adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain.
And, in their own words, Brits chose fish and chips as the country’s national dish, making it the ‘resounding’ winner with 49% of the vote.
What is the UK’s national dish? A new survey has revealed Brits’ pick in a landslide victory / Credit: The Manc Group
With nearly half of the overall vote, this puts fish and chips far ahead of the roast dinner in second place, which only 24% of people picked – including the 6% who made sure to specify a beef roast.
In fact, only 3% of Brits actually name chicken tikka masala as the UK’s national dish, although 52% in the survey did confess that they eat some form of curry at least once a month, so it is still a popular pick regardless.
Fish and chips is by far the most common answer across all generations too, according to the survey (45-50%), with the biggest difference between age groups being that 18-24 year olds are less likely to have nominated roast dinner and more likely to have chosen chicken tikka masala instead.
What do Brits say is the UK’s national dish?
Fish and chips – 49%
Roast dinner – 24%
Chicken tikka masala – 3%
Curry (non-specific) – 2%
Full English breakfast – 2%
Bangers and mash – 1%
Cottage or shepherd’s pie – 1%
Other – 3%
Don’t know – 15%
The survey also showed that, of the three top contenders for the UK’s national dish, roast dinners are the most frequently eaten, as 52% of people said they eat them on a monthly basis – including 16% who do so every week.
Aside from the frequently mentioned dishes, some survey respondents also gave shoutouts to the full English breakfast (2%), bangers and mash (1%), and cottage or shepherd’s pie (1%).
Emily Sergeant -
8th June 2022 
