Cape Town pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Cape Town is moderate; cypress, mugwort, and nettle are moderate; eucalyptus and mulberry are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) levels are similar to today.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, and nettle will increase; grass, oak, and plane will remain stable.
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Features and forecast availability vary by region.
Pollen Risk
Today - 20 September
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alder (Alnus) | None | 0/100 |
| Birch (Betula) | None | 0/100 |
| Hazel (Corylus) | None | 0/100 |
| Cypress (Cupressaceae) | Moderate | 33/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 20/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 50/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 23/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | None | 0/100 |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Moderate | 50/100 |
Tomorrow - 21 September
| Pollen species | Level | Value | 7-Day Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alder (Alnus) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Birch (Betula) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Hazel (Corylus) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Cypress (Cupressaceae) | Moderate | 32/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 20/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 50/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 23/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Moderate | 50/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Cape Town's distinctive botanical landscape, anchored by Kirstenbosch and the Liesbeeck River corridor, features native fynbos, oak, and pine as the main pollen sources, with exposure varying between these green areas and the more built-up city centre. Surrounding Cape fynbos and the Cape Peninsula woodland contribute substantial scrub and tree pollen, while the Mediterranean climate concentrates the pollen season in spring from August through November.
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.
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Resource Hub
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 65 neighborhoods
Sports venues in Cape Town 24 sports venues
Popular Local Routes 10 routes
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Western Cape
Is pollen high in Cape Town right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Cape Town are moderate. Urtica is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Cape Town tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Cape Town will be similar to today, with morus at low levels, myrtle at low levels, urtica at moderate levels, artemisia at moderate levels, cypress at moderate levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Cape Town this week?
According to the five-day outlook, morus, myrtle, urtica, artemisia, and cypress pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Cape Town?
On 20 September 2026, Urtica is the dominant pollen source in Cape Town. artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle are also present but at lower levels. platanus, grass, and oak are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Cape Town?
How often is the Cape Town pollen forecast updated?
The Cape Town pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Cape Town come from nearby or far away?
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.
Are pollen levels in Cape Town based on measurements or forecasts?
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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 scores represent risk levels, not direct measurements of pollen or air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk. Pollen and air quality use different thresholds.
Pollen
| None | 0 | No or negligible risk of exposure. Pollen/mold exposure is expected to be minimal. |
| Low | 0-25 | Low risk of exposure. Small amounts of pollen or mold spores may be present. |
| Moderate | 25-50 | Moderate risk of exposure. Pollen/mold exposure is expected to be noticeable. |
| High | 50-75 | High risk of exposure. Elevated pollen/mold exposure is expected. |
| Very High | 75-100 | Very high risk of exposure. Pollen/mold exposure is expected to be at or near its highest levels. |
Get More in the Airmine Pollen app
Get 15-day pollen forecasts with morning, afternoon and evening detail, plus 5-day air quality forecasts. Explore interactive pollen risk maps, estimated pollen season start, route profiles and a symptoms diary.
Features and forecast availability vary by region. Currently covering Europe, the contiguous US, southern Canada, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia (Java & Bali), Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Buenos Aires area.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS).
