Durham pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Durham is high; ragweed is high; grass is moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) levels are similar to today.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will decrease.
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Features and forecast availability vary by region.
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 | 42/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 12/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 70/100 |
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 | 43/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 13/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 70/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Durham's parks, including Eno River State Park and the Ellerbe Creek corridor, feature oak, pine, and sweet gum as the main tree pollen sources, with exposure varying between these green areas and the more built-up city centre. Surrounding North Carolina Piedmont woodland and farmland contribute substantial tree and grass pollen, with the humid subtropical setting supporting an extended and intense pollen season.
Durham's pollen season opens with oak and pine from late February, producing intense tree pollen through March and April. Grass pollen follows through May and June, with ragweed extending the season into October. The humid subtropical setting and abundant North Carolina Piedmont woodland support an extended and intense pollen season, while surrounding farmland contributes additional grass pollen under prevailing southwesterly winds.
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Resource Hub
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 2 neighborhoods
Sports venues in Durham 1 sports venue
Local parkruns 1 parkrun
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in North Carolina
Is pollen high in Durham right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Durham are high. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Durham tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Durham will be similar to today, with artemisia at low levels, grass at moderate levels, ambrosia at high levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Durham this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia, grass, and ambrosia pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, suggesting improving conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Durham?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Durham. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Durham?
How often is the Durham pollen forecast updated?
The Durham pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham, 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).
