Long Island is preparing for a difficult allergy season after a winter with extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Dr. Stephanie Mawhirt of NYU Langone Ambulatory Care says the heavy winter precipitation has created excellent conditions for tree pollen to flourish as temperatures rise. Early blooming trees have already reached medium pollen levels, and experts predict a surge in pollen counts by April, potentially worsening symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, and coughing among residents.