Ridgecrest pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Ridgecrest is high; grass, mugwort, and ragweed are high.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) ragweed remains high, grass declining, mugwort declining.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
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Features and forecast availability vary by region.
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) | High | 61/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | High | 51/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 70/100 |
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) | Moderate | 37/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 28/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 64/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Ridgecrest's setting on a high-desert town in California's Indian Wells Valley supports Mojave Desert scrub, creosote bush flats, and Joshua tree woodland margins as the leading local vegetation, all factoring into the pollen count through the year. Counts here rise and fall with the same broad rhythm as other places sharing this setting. Residents who spend time outdoors around Ridgecrest typically notice the shift as each season turns over.
Ridgecrest's tree pollen season begins with olive and acacia from January before eucalyptus extends the tree season through February. Grass pollen builds through March and April, and sagebrush and mugwort extend exposure into early autumn. The Southern California Mediterranean climate advances the season, and onshore Pacific breezes can periodically disperse pollen, a defining feature of the local season.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in California
Is pollen high in Ridgecrest right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Ridgecrest are high. Artemisia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and ambrosia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Ridgecrest tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Ridgecrest will be different from today, with ambrosia at high levels and artemisia, grass continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Ridgecrest this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia, grass, and ambrosia pollen levels will increase later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Ridgecrest?
On 20 September 2026, Artemisia is the dominant pollen source in Ridgecrest. grass and ambrosia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Ridgecrest?
How often is the Ridgecrest pollen forecast updated?
The Ridgecrest pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest, 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).
