Cape Town pollen forecast — Signal Hill neighborhood

On 1 August 2026, overall pollen levels in Cape Town are moderate. Cypress is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while myrtle and artemisia remain at lower levels

On 2 August 2026, pollen conditions in Cape Town will be similar to today, with myrtle at low levels, artemisia at low levels, cypress at medium levels

According to the five-day outlook, myrtle, artemisia, and cypress pollen levels will increase later in the week.

On 1 August 2026, Cypress is the dominant pollen source in Cape Town. myrtle and artemisia are also present but at lower levels. platanus, oak, urtica, and morus are not currently active.

At Signal Hill, fynbos and introduced oak pollen build from August as the Cape spring begins, with grass following through September and October. The region's dry summer from December keeps pollen low, while the area's the city bowl, harbour, and southern suburbs shapes the mix of vegetation feeding into the spring pollen peak, a pattern typical of the broader Cape fynbos biome.

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.