Catalina Foothills pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Catalina Foothills is high; ragweed is high; grass is moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) grass remains moderate, ragweed remains high, mugwort increasing.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will decrease.
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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 | 40/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 25/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 64/100 |
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) | Moderate | 46/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 30/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 70/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Catalina Foothills's Pima County Arizona suburban setting features saguaro cactus, palo verde, and desert willow as the main native pollen sources alongside residential plantings, with the elevated foothills setting supporting more desert scrub than in lower Tucson. Exposure varies considerably between the native Sonoran Desert wash corridors and the more built-up residential areas, while the Santa Catalina Mountain backdrop creates distinct mountain-desert pollen gradients and the elevation means slightly cooler conditions than lower valley areas.
Catalina Foothills's Sonoran Desert suburban setting north of Tucson produces a season opening in January with palo verde and desert willow before grass from surrounding desert grassland peaks through March and April. Monsoon season from July through September brings a second grass and mugwort peak, while the elevated foothills setting means the season begins slightly later than in lower Tucson valley areas throughout.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Arizona
Is pollen high in Catalina Foothills right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Catalina Foothills are high. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Catalina Foothills tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Catalina Foothills will be different from today, with ambrosia at high levels, grass at moderate levels and artemisia increasing
Is pollen expected to decrease in Catalina Foothills this week?
According to the five-day outlook, ambrosia, artemisia, and grass pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, suggesting improving conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Catalina Foothills?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Catalina Foothills. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Catalina Foothills?
How often is the Catalina Foothills pollen forecast updated?
The Catalina Foothills pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Catalina Foothills 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 Catalina Foothills 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 Catalina Foothills, 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).
