Asthma Australia

02/11/2026

There's a high risk of thunderstorm asthma in several parts of Victoria today.

Asthma Australia CEO Kate Miranda spoke to ABC TV News Channel this morning about how you can stay safe. Thunderstorm asthma can come on quickly, and it can affect people with asthma or hay fever, including people who have never had asthma before.

This year marks 10 years since Melbourne's devastating 2016 thunderstorm asthma event. But it wasn't a once-off. Whenever high grass pollen levels and the right kind of storm come together, thunderstorm asthma can occur, so being prepared every grass pollen season matters.

If you're in Victoria, here's how to protect yourself and the people you love:

• Keep your hay fever under control. If you get wheezy or cough when your hay fever flares, see your GP.
• Carry your reliever with you everywhere today.
• Keep taking your preventer as prescribed, even if you feel well.
• Know asthma first aid. If someone is having trouble breathing, start asthma first aid and call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

If you can, stay indoors with the windows closed before and during the storm.

Find out more about thunderstorm asthma: https://buff.ly/7FyaUQc Have a question? Talk to one of our Asthma Educators on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462): https://buff.ly/UbVryqk

01/11/2026

High risk of thunderstorm asthma on Monday 2 November

UPDATE: the moderate risk alert for Northern Country has been upgraded to high risk. The high risk alert for North Central and North East region has been downgraded to moderate. The high risk alert for Mallee and Wimmera region remains for Monday 2 November. Continue to monitor local conditions and, if you have asthma, always carry your reliever and if at any time you develop symptoms, follow the four steps of asthma first aid.

There is also a moderate risk for the North Central and North East regions.

If you develop asthma symptoms, follow your asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.

Go indoors and shut windows and doors and turn off air conditioners that bring outside air in.

Stay up to date at VicEmergency: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

31/10/2026

ADVICE - THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA - Prepare Now
Incident Location: East Gippsland
Issue Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 02:04 pm
Next Update: Saturday 31 October 2026, 11:10 pm

More details at http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ #!/warning/43560/moreinfo

This Advice is for East Gippsland.

- There is a high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma in the East Gippsland district on Saturday 31 October 2026.
- People may experience asthma symptoms or difficulty breathing due to thunderstorm activity.
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/thunderstorm-asthma can be triggered by a combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm.
- For people who have asthma or hay fever, this can trigger severe asthma symptoms.
- This Advice message replaces the Advice message issued at 4:34pm on Friday 30 October.

Be aware of an increased chance of experiencing breathing difficulties or an asthma attack. Prepare now - carry your asthma reliever puffer with you at all times on Saturday.

31/10/2026

ADVICE - THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA - Prepare Now
Incident Location: North Central District
Issue Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 01:10 pm
Next Update: Sunday 01 November 2026, 12:20 am

More details at http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ #!/warning/43556/moreinfo

This Advice is being issued for North Central District.
- There is a high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma in the North Central District on Saturday 31 October 2026.
- People may experience asthma symptoms or difficulty breathing due to thunderstorm activity.
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/thunderstorm-asthma can be triggered by a combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm.
- For people who have asthma or hay fever, this can trigger severe asthma symptoms.

Be aware of an increased chance of experiencing breathing difficulties or an asthma attack. Prepare now - carry your asthma reliever puffer with you at all times today.

31/10/2026

ADVICE - THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA - Prepare Now
Incident Location: North East District
Issue Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 01:18 pm
Next Update: Sunday 01 November 2026, 12:20 am

More details at http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ #!/warning/43555/moreinfo

This Advice is being issued for North East District.
- There is a high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma in the North East District on Saturday 31 October 2026
- People may experience asthma symptoms or difficulty breathing due to thunderstorm activity.
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/thunderstorm-asthma can be triggered by a combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm.
- For people who have asthma or hay fever, this can trigger severe asthma symptoms.

Be aware of an increased chance of experiencing breathing difficulties or an asthma attack. Prepare now - carry your asthma reliever puffer with you at all times on Saturday.

31/10/2026

UPDATE: the moderate risk alert of epidemic thunderstorm asthma for North East and North Central region has been upgraded to high risk for Saturday 31 October. The high risk alert for East Gippsland, West & South Gippsland and Northern Country regions remains.

The moderate risk forecast across Central, Mallee and Wimmera regions also remains in place.

If you develop asthma symptoms, follow your asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.

Go indoors and shut windows and doors and turn off air conditioners that bring outside air in.

Stay up to date at VicEmergency: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

30/10/2026

A high risk of thunderstorm asthma is forecast for East Gippsland, Northern Country and West and South Gippsland districts in Victoria and Riverina in New South Wales today.
If you have asthma and/or hay fever, you may be at risk – particularly if you experience symptoms such as sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, a runny or blocked nose, or any difficulty breathing.
Thunderstorm asthma can cause severe difficulty breathing and can become dangerous quickly.
If you develop asthma symptoms, start Asthma First Aid immediately. Call Triple Zero (000) if your symptoms don't improve or start to get worse.
Find out what to do during a thunderstorm asthma event and how to stay prepared: https://buff.ly/7FyaUQc

30/10/2026

High pollen counts and possible worsening weather conditions may increase the risk of thunderstorm asthma tomorrow (Saturday 31 October) in the ACT.

If you’ve ever had asthma or hay fever or if you sneeze or wheeze during pollen season and are heading outdoors on Saturday, be prepared and protect yourself.

✅Monitor for asthma and hay fever symptoms.
✅Take medications as prescribed and carry them with you.
✅Avoid being outdoors during the storm and gusty winds that come first.
✅If your asthma symptoms are not relieved by your usual treatment, seek urgent medical advice.

We will continue to monitor the risk of thunderstorm asthma over the weekend and let the ACT community know, via our page, if the risk increases.

Thunderstorm asthma events are rare.

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately and stay indoors while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Find out more www.act.gov.au/environment/air-quality/pollen-levels-and-your-health

30/10/2026

⚡THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA ALERT - SATURDAY

Thunderstorms are forecast for the Riverina on Saturday and pollen levels remain High.

Be prepared: Carry your asthma medication, keep your asthma plan up to date, and know what to do if symptoms worsen.

You can monitor thunderstorm activity in the region via the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) radar website. www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/rain-radar-and-weather-maps

Check the latest pollen forecasts here
www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/mlhd/our-services/public-health-services/thunderstorm-asthma

Register to receive an alert when pollen counts are high are thunderstorms are forecast
www.nsw.gov.au/mlhd-asthma-alert

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Asthma Australia Charles Sturt University