Howick pollen forecast — Midmar Dam Nature Reserve neighborhood
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve, Howick is moderate; mugwort is moderate; cypress, eucalyptus, oak, mulberry, and plane are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) cypress remains low, eucalyptus remains low, oak remains low, mulberry remains low, plane remains low, mugwort declining.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week cypress, eucalyptus, oak, mulberry, and plane will increase; mugwort will decrease; grass 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 | 16/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 14/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | Low | 15/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 31/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 16/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 16/100 |
| 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 | 3/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 1/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | Low | 2/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 18/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 2/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 2/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | None | 0/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Midmar Dam Nature Reserve lies roughly 90 km west-northwest of Durban. Natal grassland, acacia, and eucalyptus characterise the area around Midmar Dam Nature Reserve, with exposure shifting between planted greenery in town and open farmland beyond. The district's dairy and forestry farming operations contributes to a landscape defined by the Midlands' cool, elevated inland climate, consistent with the wider KwaZulu-Natal Midlands landscape that shapes daily exposure across the wider Midlands district.
Midmar Dam Nature Reserve's Midlands pollen calendar starts with acacia and eucalyptus in August, before grass takes over as the dominant source through November and December. Surrounding dairy and forestry farming operations and the region's elevated, cooler climate together shape a season that lags slightly behind the lower-lying Highveld, a pattern typical of the wider KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in KwaZulu-Natal
Is pollen high in Howick right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Howick are moderate. Artemisia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while oak, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Howick tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Howick will be different from today, with oak at low levels, cypress at low levels, morus at low levels, myrtle at low levels, platanus at low levels and artemisia continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Howick this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, while oak, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus pollen will increase, suggesting mixed conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Howick?
On 20 September 2026, Artemisia is the dominant pollen source in Howick. oak, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus are also present but at lower levels. urtica and grass are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Howick?
How often is the Howick pollen forecast updated?
The Howick pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Howick 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 Howick 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 Howick, 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).
