Cape Town pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead

On 11 July 2026, overall pollen levels in Cape Town are low. Myrtle is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia and cypress remain at lower levels

On 12 July 2026, pollen conditions in Cape Town will be similar to today, with myrtle at low levels, artemisia at low levels, cypress at low levels

According to the five-day outlook, myrtle, artemisia, and cypress pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, suggesting improving conditions later in the week.

On 11 July 2026, Myrtle is the dominant pollen source in Cape Town. artemisia and cypress are also present but at lower levels. platanus, urtica, and morus are not currently active.

Cape Town's pollen season follows the Southern Hemisphere spring pattern, running from August through November. Fynbos scrub and oak tree pollen open the season in August, with grass pollen peaking through September and October. The Mediterranean climate means the season is concentrated in a relatively short spring window, with the wet winter from June to August largely free of significant pollen and the hot, dry summer suppressing late season exposure.

The Cape Town pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.

Studies show that most pollen exposure (often 70–90%) comes from nearby sources, such as local trees and vegetation. A good pollen forecast therefore depends on accurately representing local vegetation. Pollen can travel long distances, but this usually matters only early in the season or during specific wind events.

Pollen data is often misunderstood. Most "pollen levels" are not real-time measurements, but forecasts.

Direct pollen measurements are typically delayed by 1-2 days because they require manual analysis. To show current conditions in Cape Town, modern forecasts combine recent measurements, weather data, and information about local vegetation.

This allows us to estimate pollen levels for today and the coming days, not just report the past.

Airmine’s atmospheric monitoring platform was developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team, using satellite and Earth observation technologies to improve emissions monitoring.