Badlands pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Badlands is low; grass and ragweed are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) grass remains low, ragweed increasing.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
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Air Quality
Pollen in Other Cities
Air Quality in Other Cities
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) | Low | 9/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Low | 17/100 |
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) | Low | 22/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 32/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Badlands National Park is a sparse mixed-grass prairie with little vegetation to speak of. What grows — grama grass, yucca, and wildflowers — keeps pollen levels relatively low. Wind picks up whatever is there and carries it for miles.
Badlands National Park tracks Badlands's broader pollen pattern, with elm and cottonwood appearing from March then ash follows, running through April. A grass pollen peak follows through May and June; ragweed and mugwort extend the season into September. The continental climate and surrounding farmland drive a well-defined spring tree peak and a strong late-summer ragweed season, consistent with the wider Badlands area.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in South Dakota
Is pollen high in Badlands right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Badlands are low. Grass is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while ambrosia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Badlands tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Badlands will be different from today, with grass at low levels and ambrosia increasing
Is pollen expected to decrease in Badlands this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia, grass, and ambrosia pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Badlands?
On 20 September 2026, Grass is the dominant pollen source in Badlands. ambrosia are also present but at lower levels. artemisia are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Badlands?
How often is the Badlands pollen forecast updated?
The Badlands pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Badlands 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 Badlands 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 Badlands, 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).