Hickory pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Hickory 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 mugwort will increase; grass 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 | 43/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 14/100 |
| 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 | 34/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 5/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 61/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Hickory's parks, including Lakeside Park and the Henry Fork River 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 and Blue Ridge foothills woodland contribute substantial tree and grass pollen, with the humid subtropical setting supporting an extended pollen season across the area.
Hickory's pollen season opens with oak and pine from late January, producing intense tree pollen through February and March. Grass pollen follows through April and May, with ragweed extending the season into October. The Blue Ridge Mountain foothills setting channels airflows and concentrates pollen, while surrounding North Carolina Piedmont woodland and farmland contribute substantial tree and grass pollen under the humid subtropical climate.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in North Carolina
Is pollen high in Hickory right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Hickory are high. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Hickory tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Hickory will be similar to today, with ambrosia at high levels, artemisia at low levels, grass at moderate levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Hickory this week?
According to the five-day outlook, ambrosia and grass pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, while artemisia pollen will increase, suggesting mixed conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Hickory?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Hickory. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Hickory?
How often is the Hickory pollen forecast updated?
The Hickory pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Hickory 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 Hickory 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 Hickory, 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).
