Charleston pollen forecast — Rainbow Row neighborhood
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Rainbow Row, Charleston is moderate; ragweed is moderate; grass and mugwort are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) mugwort remains low, grass increasing, ragweed increasing.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will decrease.
Explore Forecasts
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 | 21/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 11/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 46/100 |
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 | 28/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 18/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 54/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Rainbow Row is a historic coastal city lush with live oak, wisteria, and palmetto. Pollen season kicks off in February and barely pauses until November. The Spanish moss and maritime air create a lush but sneeze-worthy environment.
Pollen season at Rainbow Row follows Charleston's regional pattern, opening with cedar and elm from February with oak joining in and continuing through March and April. Grass pollen builds through April and May, and mugwort and nettle extend exposure into September. Mild winters across the Southeast push the pollen calendar earlier than in most of the country throughout the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in South Carolina
Is pollen high in Charleston right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Charleston are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia and grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Charleston tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Charleston will be different from today, with artemisia at low levels and ambrosia, grass increasing
Is pollen expected to decrease in Charleston 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 Charleston?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Charleston. artemisia and grass are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Charleston?
How often is the Charleston pollen forecast updated?
The Charleston pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston, 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).