Richards Bay pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Richards Bay is moderate; cypress, mugwort, and nettle are moderate; eucalyptus and mulberry are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) cypress remains moderate, eucalyptus remains low, mugwort remains moderate, mulberry remains low, nettle declining.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week eucalyptus, mulberry, and nettle will increase; cypress and mugwort will decrease; grass, oak, and plane 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) | Low | 11/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 38/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 24/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | None | 0/100 |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Moderate | 34/100 |
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 | 46/100 | |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | Low | 1/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 27/100 | |
| Mulberry (Morus) | Low | 14/100 | |
| Plane (Platanus) | None | 0/100 | |
| Nettle (Urtica) | Low | 24/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Richards Bay's KwaZulu-Natal North Coast industrial port setting features subtropical coastal forest, eucalyptus, and sugarcane as the main pollen sources, with exposure varying between the uMhlatuze River mouth wetland and the more built-up industrial port and commercial corridors. The uMhlatuze River estuary and the Meerensee Lake corridor provide locally significant wetland and coastal vegetation pollen, while the surrounding sugarcane farmland dominates the regional pollen landscape throughout.
Richards Bay's KwaZulu-Natal North Coast industrial season opens in August with subtropical coastal forest trees and eucalyptus before sugarcane and grass peak through November and December. The uMhlatuze River estuary and Meerensee Lake corridor contribute locally significant wetland and coastal vegetation pollen, while the surrounding sugarcane farmland dominates the regional pollen landscape throughout the summer growing season.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in KwaZulu-Natal
Is pollen high in Richards Bay right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Richards Bay are moderate. Urtica is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Richards Bay tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Richards Bay will be different from today, with artemisia at moderate levels, cypress at moderate levels, morus at low levels, myrtle at low levels and urtica continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Richards Bay this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia and cypress pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, while urtica, morus, and myrtle pollen will increase, suggesting mixed conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Richards Bay?
On 20 September 2026, Urtica is the dominant pollen source in Richards Bay. artemisia, cypress, morus, and myrtle are also present but at lower levels. oak, platanus, and grass are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Richards Bay?
How often is the Richards Bay pollen forecast updated?
The Richards Bay pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay 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 Richards Bay, 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).
