Braidwood pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Braidwood is moderate; grass and ragweed are moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) grass declining, ragweed declining, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
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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) | None | 0/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | Moderate | 26/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 6/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 43/100 |
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 | 8/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Low | 24/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Braidwood lies in the Illinois River basin, not far from the Spoon River and Starved Rock area woodlots. The surrounding landscape is dominated by bottomland hardwood forest and prairie remnants. The Spoon River winds through the wider area, its banks favoring moisture-loving trees such as willow and alder. Local vegetation still varies with soil type and drainage.
Trees along the Spoon River, such as willow and alder, are usually first to release pollen, typically peaking in late winter into March. The wooded areas near a local forest preserve then carry the tree pollen load into its sharpest phase, typically centered on April and May. Farther out toward the Illinois River and Starved Rock area woodlots, tree pollen tends to follow this same rough schedule.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in Braidwood right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Braidwood are moderate. Grass is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while ambrosia and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Braidwood tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Braidwood will be different from today, with grass, ambrosia continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Braidwood 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 Braidwood?
On 20 September 2026, Grass is the dominant pollen source in Braidwood. ambrosia and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Braidwood?
How often is the Braidwood pollen forecast updated?
The Braidwood pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Braidwood 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 Braidwood 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 Braidwood, 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).
