Thornton Township pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Thornton Township is moderate; grass and ragweed are 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
Air Quality
Pollen for Neighborhoods
Air Quality 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 | 31/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 1/100 |
| 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 | 14/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Low | 24/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
The waterside growth here is largely hazel and willow, both efficient wind-pollen dispersers, within easy reach. Forest where oak and birch make up much of the canopy, driving spring pollen counts; this sits within the neighborhood. This area, in the wider area, has maintained parkland where turf grass and ornamental species add to the grass and ragweed mix.
The bank's hazel and willow kick off the pollen season ahead of the rest, building through the tail end of winter into March. As spring advances, oak and birch in the nearby woodland become the dominant source, climbing steadily through spring to a peak in April or May. Late spring sees grass pollen build steadily toward a peak in June, then gives way to ragweed, which drives the season's second major surge from mid-August into October.
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
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 1 neighborhood
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in Thornton Township right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Thornton Township are moderate. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while grass and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Thornton Township tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Thornton Township will be different from today, with ambrosia, grass continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Thornton Township 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 Thornton Township?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Thornton Township. grass and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Thornton Township?
How often is the Thornton Township pollen forecast updated?
The Thornton Township pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Thornton Township 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 Thornton Township 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 Thornton Township, 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).
