Grahamstown pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Grahamstown is moderate; cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, plane, and nettle are moderate.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) cypress remains moderate, mugwort remains moderate, mulberry remains moderate, nettle remains moderate, eucalyptus declining, plane declining.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, plane, and nettle will increase; grass and oak 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) | Moderate | 50/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Moderate | 36/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 50/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Moderate | 50/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | Moderate | 27/100 |
| 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 | 38/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 17/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 45/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Moderate | 34/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 10/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Moderate | 41/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Grahamstown's Eastern Cape 1820 Settler setting features acacia, exotic garden trees, and Eastern Cape thicket as the main pollen sources, with exposure varying between the wooded Rhodes University campus and the more built-up historic downtown commercial corridors. The Bloukrans River corridor provides locally significant green space, while the Rhodes University botanical garden contributes distinctive ornamental tree pollen and the surrounding Eastern Cape bushveld extends additional pollen across the historic settler city.
Grahamstown's Eastern Cape season opens in July with acacia and exotic garden trees before Eastern Cape thicket and grass peak through September and October. The Rhodes University campus and botanical garden contribute distinctive ornamental tree pollen, while the Bloukrans River corridor provides locally significant green space and the surrounding Eastern Cape bushveld contributes additional regional pollen throughout the spring and summer season.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Eastern Cape
Is pollen high in Grahamstown right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Grahamstown are moderate. Urtica is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Grahamstown tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Grahamstown will be different from today, with urtica at moderate levels, artemisia at moderate levels, cypress at moderate levels, morus at moderate levels and myrtle, platanus continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Grahamstown this week?
According to the five-day outlook, urtica, artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Grahamstown?
On 20 September 2026, Urtica is the dominant pollen source in Grahamstown. artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus are also present but at lower levels. oak and grass are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Grahamstown?
How often is the Grahamstown pollen forecast updated?
The Grahamstown pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Grahamstown 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 Grahamstown 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 Grahamstown, 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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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).
