North Chicago pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in North Chicago is moderate; grass and ragweed are moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) ragweed remains moderate, grass declining, 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) | Moderate | 33/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 2/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 42/100 |
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 | 20/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 28/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
North Chicago lies in the Chain O'Lakes region of Lake County, not far from Squaw Creek and the Chain O'Lakes wetlands. The surrounding landscape is dominated by floodplain willow and cattail marsh. Squaw Creek winds through the wider area, its banks favoring moisture-loving trees such as willow and alder. Local vegetation still varies with soil type and drainage.
Streamside willow and alder near the Des Plaines River kick off the local pollen calendar, usually strongest in the weeks before spring fully arrives. The wooded areas near Grant Woods Forest Preserve then carry the tree pollen load into its sharpest phase, typically centered on April and May. Similar timing shows up near Squaw Creek and the natural areas around Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve, with only minor local variation.
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Resource Hub
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 1 neighborhood
Sports venues in North Chicago 3 sports venues
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in North Chicago right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in North Chicago are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in North Chicago tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in North Chicago will be different from today, with ambrosia at moderate levels and grass continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in North Chicago 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 North Chicago?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in North Chicago. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in North Chicago?
How often is the North Chicago pollen forecast updated?
The North Chicago pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in North Chicago 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 North Chicago 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 North Chicago, 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).
