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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Feeling sick? Have a runny nose or sore throat?

It might not be cold, but instead allergies.

Experts said spring allergy season is already underway.

"This is the typical time of the year when allergy season starts, usually the end of February or March, but this year there is a lot more pollen," Dr. William Storms, with The William Storms Allergy Clinic said.

Storms' office is the only southern Colorado clinic that logs pollen counts in both Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and so far he said their numbers have been off the charts.

"Right now if you compare last years pollen count for March to this year, it is a huge difference," Storms said. "The reason we think is because it has been kind of warmer this past winter, so the trees are putting out more pollen."

And what about Dr. Storm's pollen counter?  How does it work?

"It has little rods on it, and we put vaseline on them, and it spins around in the air and catches the pollen which is microscopic," Storms said.

The clinic then rates the count from "absent" to "very high," and Wednesday's tree count was "very high."

So what does this mean for the rest of the year?

"The high pollen counts will probably continue through the summer and fall, the only difference would be if we have very dry months," Storms said.

If you are suffering from allergies right now, and would like some tips and tricks to minimize your symptoms, click here.