McCook pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in McCook is moderate; grass and ragweed are moderate.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) grass increasing, ragweed increasing, mugwort at low levels.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will decrease.
Explore Forecasts
Air Quality
Pollen in Other Cities
Air Quality in Other Cities
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 | 28/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 35/100 |
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) | High | 61/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 25/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 68/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
McCook sits on irrigated farmland along the Republican River in southwestern Nebraska, where the dominant vegetation is a mix of irrigated corn fields, shortgrass prairie, and riverside cottonwood, shaping the local pollen profile across the seasons. Individual yards and gardens around McCook can still vary somewhat from this general pattern. Nearby towns with similar terrain tend to see a broadly similar pattern.
McCook sees its pollen season open with elm and cottonwood from March before ash extends the tree season through April. A grass pollen peak follows through May and June; ragweed pollen builds through late summer into September. The continental climate and surrounding farmland drive a well-defined spring tree peak and a strong late-summer ragweed season.
Get pollen & AQ on Strava
Follow your environmental exposure and performance with the free Airmine-Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Resource Hub
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Nebraska
Is pollen high in McCook right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in McCook are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in McCook tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in McCook will be different from today, with artemisia at low levels and ambrosia, grass increasing
Is pollen expected to decrease in McCook this week?
According to the five-day outlook, ambrosia, artemisia, and grass pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, suggesting improving conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in McCook?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in McCook. grass are also present but at lower levels. artemisia are not currently active.
When is pollen season in McCook?
How often is the McCook pollen forecast updated?
The McCook pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in McCook 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 McCook 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 McCook, 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).