Silver Spring pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Silver Spring is high; ragweed is high; grass is moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) grass declining, ragweed declining, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
Explore Forecasts
Pollen in Other Cities
Get More in Our App
Local pollen and air quality forecasts, interactive pollen maps and route profiles
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) | Moderate | 41/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 6/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 58/100 |
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 | 14/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 30/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Silver Spring's suburban setting in Montgomery County features oak, maple, and pine as the main tree pollen sources in parks and along residential streets, with exposure varying between these green areas and the more built-up areas. Surrounding Maryland woodland and the Rock Creek corridor contribute substantial tree and grass pollen, while the proximity to Washington DC connects Silver Spring to the broader Potomac valley pollen landscape.
Silver Spring's pollen season opens with cedar and maple from late January, followed by oak and pine through March and April. Grass pollen peaks through May and June, with ragweed extending the season into October. The Rock Creek corridor and proximity to Washington DC connect Silver Spring to the broader Potomac valley pollen landscape, while surrounding Maryland woodland and the urban heat island effect extend the season slightly at both ends.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Maryland
Is pollen high in Silver Spring right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Silver Spring are high. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Silver Spring tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Silver Spring will be different from today, with ambrosia, grass continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Silver Spring. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Silver Spring?
How often is the Silver Spring pollen forecast updated?
The Silver Spring pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring, 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).
