Hoffman Estates pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Hoffman Estates is moderate; ragweed is moderate; grass and mugwort are low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) ragweed remains moderate, grass no longer expected, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
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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) | Low | 10/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 5/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 43/100 |
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) | None | 0/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 29/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Hoffman Estates's Cook County Illinois Chicago suburban setting features oak, maple, and elm as the main tree pollen sources, with exposure varying between the greener residential areas along Poplar Creek and the more built-up commercial corridors along Higgins Road. The Poplar Creek Forest Preserve provides particularly significant local tree pollen, while the numerous residential parks and the flat Midwest landscape allow pollen to disperse widely and the Forest Preserve corridor creates distinct forested-urban pollen gradients throughout.
Hoffman Estates's Chicago suburban setting produces a season opening in late March with elm and maple before oak peaks through May. Grass from surrounding Illinois farmland peaks through June and July before mugwort and nettle extend exposure into September. The Poplar Creek corridor channels airflows, while the flat Midwest landscape allows pollen to disperse widely and the Lake Michigan proximity provides occasional temperature moderation throughout.
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Resource Hub
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 2 neighborhoods
Sports venues in Hoffman Estates 2 sports venues
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in Hoffman Estates right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Hoffman Estates are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia and grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Hoffman Estates tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Hoffman Estates will be different from today, with ambrosia at moderate levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Hoffman Estates. artemisia and grass are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Hoffman Estates?
How often is the Hoffman Estates pollen forecast updated?
The Hoffman Estates pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates, 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).
