Washington Heights, Chicago Pollen Forecast - Today, Tomorrow and the Week Ahead
Pollen Today
Today (11 October) pollen in Washington Heights, Chicago is low; grass, mugwort, ragweed, mold (alternaria), and mold (cladosporium) are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (12 October 2026) ragweed remains low, mold (alternaria) remains low, mold (cladosporium) remains low, grass no longer expected, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase; mold (alternaria) and mold (cladosporium) will decrease.
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Pollen Risk
Today - 11 October
| 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) | Low | 7/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Low | 11/100 |
| Mold (Alternaria) | Low | 15/100 |
| Mold (Cladosporium) | Low | 23/100 |
Tomorrow - 12 October
| 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) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Low | 5/100 | |
| Mold (Alternaria) | Low | 10/100 | |
| Mold (Cladosporium) | Low | 16/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
This location in Chicago is densely built up, with some woodland. A nearby park adds mown lawns and planted trees to the local pollen mix. Common allergenic trees nearby include maple, oak and mulberry. Grass pollen is plentiful, while ragweed and plantain lead among the weeds. In the immediate area, planted trees and mown lawns are the main sources in the built-up parts.
Maple, oak and mulberry lead the season in mid-spring, as temperatures climb to around 10°C, and tree pollen reaches its peak. Grasses take over in early summer, with temperatures around 20°C, and their pollen lingers into early fall. The season closes with ragweed and plantain from late summer into mid-fall. Rain is heaviest in summer, often giving short breaks from high pollen levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in Chicago right now?
On 11 October 2026, overall pollen levels in Chicago are low. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia and grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Chicago tomorrow?
On 12 October 2026, pollen conditions in Chicago will be different from today, with ambrosia at low levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Chicago this week?
According to the five-day outlook, ambrosia, artemisia, and grass pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Chicago?
On 11 October 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Chicago. artemisia and grass are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Chicago?
How often is the Chicago pollen forecast updated?
The Chicago pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago, 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 pollen scores represent risk levels, not direct pollen measurements. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
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. |
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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).
