(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) -- Pollen: It's on your car, in the air and especially in your sinuses.

From Florida to Texas to Colorado and especially in metro Atlanta, 2010 is shaping up to be a monster of an allergy season. The words "pollen" and "allergy" are among the top 10 trending topics on Twitter in several U.S. cities. Everywhere, it seems, is covered in a fine yellow dust that irritates our lives.

Experts say it's the worst they've seen in years in many areas. Last Wednesday, Atlanta's daily pollen count was just shy of the all-time high set in April 1999. Though Thursday's rain briefly caused the level to decline, it is forecast to be in the severe range again over the next several days.

Metro Atlantans plagued with pollen sensitivities are swarming allergy clinics and asking advice of everyone from their pharmacists to their best friends.

"People are really suffering. They're getting an overdose of pollen," said Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

The clinic, which has 19 sites around metro Atlanta, is seeing more patients, many of whom are experiencing more severe symptoms such as coughing, headaches and sneezing, he said. Some people have more serious complications, such as sinus infections.

People with asthma, Fineman said, are coughing to the extent where they are experiencing shortness of breath.

Sufferers are scrambling for answers.

Richard Noell, owner of Olde Time Pharmacy in Holly Springs, said he has seen a rush of people coming in to treat their symptoms.

Many already know what works and simply ask where to find it. But others are more desperate. As one participant in an Atlanta-area allergy online forum asked, "Anybody think NASA would loan me a spacesuit for a couple of weeks?"

"Everybody's different and they have to find what works for them," Noell said.

Even the guy at the local car wash finds himself dispensing advice, as car after car pulls in to wash off the yellow grime.

"A lot of people with red eyes are coming in," said Lennox Bundy, CEO of Cactus Car Wash, which has three locations in metro Atlanta.

Angel Waldron, a spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, said allergy seasons have been getting longer over the years, with six to eight weeks of suffering expected this year in some areas.

Oak trees are the culprit in many places in the Southeast. They produce 3,000 to 6,000 pollen particles per cubic meter; it only takes 10 particles to trigger an allergic reaction.

Waldron said that each year her group compiles a list of the most challenging places to live for allergy and asthma sufferers. Topping the list for 2010: Richmond, Va. Atlanta ranked 10th.

"We rank them based on pollen counts, number of medicines used, both prescription and over the counter, and number of specialists in the area," she said.

J.P. Levins, executive Web producer for the site pollen.com, said he's received a lot of e-mails from suffering Floridians --- but he expects more complaints from other parts of the U.S. soon.

"The season is actually just picking up," he said, adding that most of the country is facing high pollen counts.

This year is especially bad in the Southeast, weather experts say, probably due to winter's unseasonable cold.

"That may have helped delay some of the plants from blooming as early as they may have wanted to," said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. "It's the fact that everything is coming out all at once."

High winds in some areas also spread the misery.

"We had a perfect storm this year," said Dr. William Storms, professor at University of Colorado and a clinician. "It's the worst I've seen in 10 years."

Something in the air

This year's season is shaping up to be one of the worst in years, experts say.

5,733

Pollen particles per cubic meter of air in metro Atlanta on Wednesday, the peak for last week.

6,013

The all-time record for metro Atlanta, set on April 12, 1999.

120

The level at which the pollen count is considered to be "very high."

Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution