Cape Town pollen forecast — UCT Rugby Fields neighborhood

On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Cape Town are low. Urtica is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle remain at lower levels

On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Cape Town will be similar to today, with urtica at low levels, artemisia at low levels, cypress at low levels, morus at low levels, myrtle at low levels

According to the five-day outlook, urtica, artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, while grass pollen will increase, suggesting mixed conditions later in the week.

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. oak, platanus, and grass are not currently active.

At UCT Rugby Fields, 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.