Iowa City Pollen Forecast - Today, Tomorrow and the Week Ahead
Pollen Today
Today (10 October) pollen in Iowa City is moderate; mold (cladosporium) is moderate; mold (alternaria) is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026) mold (alternaria) remains low, mold (cladosporium) remains moderate, ragweed at low levels.
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 - 10 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) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | None | 0/100 |
| Mold (Alternaria) | Low | 15/100 |
| Mold (Cladosporium) | Moderate | 33/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 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 | 12/100 | |
| Mold (Alternaria) | Low | 15/100 | |
| Mold (Cladosporium) | Moderate | 32/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
The center of Iowa City is surrounded mainly by built-up land, with a good deal of woodland. The allergenic tree mix nearby includes maple, oak and pecan. Grasses and weeds such as ragweed and plantain round out the local mix. Compared with most places, ragweed is especially widespread here, which makes it one of the key local allergens.
Maple, oak and pecan lead the season in mid-spring, as temperatures climb to around 10°C, and tree pollen reaches its peak. Grass pollen follows, peaking in late spring and easing off by early fall. The most intense period comes from late summer into mid-fall, when ragweed and plantain are in flower. Rain is heaviest in summer, often giving short breaks from high pollen levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Iowa
Is pollen high in Iowa City right now?
Currently, there is no significant pollen in Iowa City.
Will pollen levels change in Iowa City tomorrow?
On 11 October 2026, pollen conditions in Iowa City will be different from today, with ambrosia at low levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
On 10 October 2026, there are no significant pollen types in Iowa City.
When is pollen season in Iowa City?
How often is the Iowa City pollen forecast updated?
The Iowa City pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City, 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. |
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).
