Rayleigh pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Rayleigh is moderate; mugwort is moderate.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) levels are similar to today.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week mugwort will increase; cypress, grass, and willow 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) | None | 0/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 40/100 |
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) | None | 0/100 | |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 48/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Residents in Rayleigh dealing with hay fever usually point to oak and beech as the culprits, particularly in spring near parks and gardens. The wider Essex countryside supplies additional tree and grass pollen, particularly when inland breezes from the surrounding countryside carry it toward the built-up area. This mix of urban and rural influence gives Rayleigh a fairly typical pollen pattern for the wider region.
In Rayleigh, the pollen calendar starts with oak and rolls straight into beech. You'll usually see oak pollen from around April through May, then beech carries on from April until May. Then grass pollen takes the baton from May all the way to September, usually peaking in June and July — that's when most people really feel it. Good to know if you're planning anything outdoors that time of year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Essex
Is pollen high in Rayleigh right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Rayleigh are moderate. Artemisia is the main contributor to airborne pollen
Will pollen levels change in Rayleigh tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Rayleigh will be similar to today, with artemisia at moderate levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Rayleigh this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Rayleigh?
On 20 September 2026, Artemisia is the dominant pollen source in Rayleigh. cypress, grass, and willow are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Rayleigh?
How often is the Rayleigh pollen forecast updated?
The Rayleigh pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Rayleigh 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 Rayleigh 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 Rayleigh, 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. |
Get More in the Airmine Pollen app
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).
