Houghton pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Houghton is moderate; ragweed is moderate; grass 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 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 | 15/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 34/100 |
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) | Low | 8/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 27/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Houghton sits on the hilly Keweenaw Peninsula above Portage Lake, where the dominant vegetation is a mix of boreal forest of spruce and fir, paper birch, and sugar maple, shaping the local pollen profile across the seasons. Wind patterns across the area help determine how far pollen travels from these source plants. The mix of native and introduced species here is fairly typical for this part of the country.
Houghton's tree pollen season begins with maple and elm from March with oak joining in and continuing through April. Grass pollen rises through May and June, and ragweed extends the season into September. Warm, humid summers in this part of the Midwest favor a pronounced late-season ragweed peak, shaping conditions across the city.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Michigan
Is pollen high in Houghton right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Houghton are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Houghton tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Houghton will be similar to today, with ambrosia at moderate levels, grass at low levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Houghton 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 Houghton?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Houghton. grass are also present but at lower levels. artemisia are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Houghton?
How often is the Houghton pollen forecast updated?
The Houghton pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Houghton 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 Houghton 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 Houghton, 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).
