Carolina pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Carolina is low; cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, and plane are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) cypress remains low, eucalyptus remains low, mulberry remains low, plane remains low, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, and plane will increase; grass, oak, and nettle will remain stable.
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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) | Low | 18/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 13/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 10/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 17/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 12/100 |
| Nettle (Urtica) | None | 0/100 |
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) | Low | 8/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 2/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 7/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 2/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | None | 0/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Carolina lies roughly 100 km west-southwest of Nelspruit. Carolina carries the typical Highveld mix: acacia and eucalyptus lining residential streets, grassland taking over past the edge of town, and coal mining and power station operations filling out the wider landscape beyond. Pollen exposure tracks this pattern closely, higher near remaining tree cover, lower on the open grass plains. This pattern holds true across most of the surrounding Highveld plateau.
August ushers in acacia and eucalyptus pollen at Carolina, giving way to a Highveld grassland peak by October and November, framed by the area's coal mining and power station operations. Winter stays largely pollen-free until the spring rains break the dry spell. This mirrors the broader seasonal pattern seen across much of the Highveld region.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Mpumalanga
Is pollen high in Carolina right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Carolina are low. Cypress is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while morus, myrtle, platanus, and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Carolina tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Carolina will be different from today, with cypress at low levels, morus at low levels, myrtle at low levels, platanus at low levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Carolina this week?
According to the five-day outlook, cypress, morus, myrtle, platanus, and artemisia pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Carolina?
On 20 September 2026, Cypress is the dominant pollen source in Carolina. morus, myrtle, platanus, and artemisia are also present but at lower levels. grass, oak, and urtica are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Carolina?
How often is the Carolina pollen forecast updated?
The Carolina pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Carolina 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 Carolina 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 Carolina, 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. |
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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).
