Some Calgarians may be feeling a little more miserable than usual for this time of year so if you are plagued by itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose right now, you're not alone.

That's because allergy season is setting in a bit early this year.

As she walks her puppy along the Bow River pathway, Erin Stephenson says the early spring is nice but it comes at a price.

"It's pretty nice, all the buds are out," Stephenson said.

And with the buds, allergies are not far behind.

"Sneezing every morning, lunchtime, dinnertime. It's like a ritual. It definitely seems to be coming in a bit earlier this year,"

Dr. Joel Doctor is an allergy specialist in Calgary.

He says the trees are pollinating early and patients are showing up with hay fever symptoms about a month earlier than usual.

"If the conditions are quite dry and quite warm it's pretty predictable it will lead to a much stronger allergy season. So if this pattern of dry warm weather continues especially over the next two to three months, then you would expect that to lead to a much, much stronger allergy season," Doctor said.

He says the worst months for allergies in Calgary are June and July and they could be worse this year — when the grasses pollinate.

He recommends people treat their symptoms with antihistamines — before they get too miserable.

If that doesn't work, a trip to the doctor may be in order, he says.