Mthatha pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Mthatha is moderate; cypress, eucalyptus, mugwort, mulberry, plane, and nettle are moderate; oak is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) cypress remains moderate, eucalyptus declining, mugwort declining, mulberry declining, plane declining, nettle declining, oak no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week cypress, eucalyptus, oak, mugwort, mulberry, plane, and nettle will increase; grass will remain stable.
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Features and forecast availability vary by region.
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 | 49/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Moderate | 31/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | Low | 20/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 47/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Moderate | 45/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | Moderate | 34/100 |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Moderate | 37/100 |
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 | 28/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 10/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 25/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 24/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | Low | 13/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Low | 16/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Mthatha's Eastern Cape Wild Coast setting features indigenous coastal forest, acacia, and introduced eucalyptus as the main tree pollen sources alongside Transkei grassland. Exposure varies between the Mthatha River valley forest corridor and the more built-up commercial corridors along Nelson Mandela Drive, while the surrounding Transkei grassland contributes substantial grass pollen and the indigenous coastal forest contributes distinctive forest canopy pollen throughout.
Mthatha's Eastern Cape Wild Coast season opens in August with acacia and eucalyptus before grass from surrounding Transkei grassland peaks through November and December. The Mthatha River valley forest corridor contributes distinctive indigenous forest canopy pollen, while the surrounding Transkei grassland is a particularly significant local grass pollen source during the summer rainfall season throughout.
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Pollen forecast neighborhoods 1 neighborhood
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Eastern Cape
Is pollen high in Mthatha right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Mthatha are moderate. Urtica is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, platanus, and oak remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Mthatha tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Mthatha will be different from today, with cypress at moderate levels and urtica, artemisia, morus, myrtle, platanus continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Mthatha this week?
According to the five-day outlook, oak, urtica, artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, and platanus pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Mthatha?
On 20 September 2026, Urtica is the dominant pollen source in Mthatha. artemisia, cypress, morus, myrtle, platanus, and oak are also present but at lower levels. grass are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Mthatha?
How often is the Mthatha pollen forecast updated?
The Mthatha pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Mthatha 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 Mthatha 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 Mthatha, 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).
