Tucson pollen forecast — Mercado District neighborhood
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Mercado District, Tucson is high; ragweed is high; grass and mugwort are moderate.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) levels are similar to today.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will decrease.
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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 | 44/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 27/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 65/100 |
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 | 50/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Moderate | 32/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | High | 70/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Mercado District is a sonoran Desert city with saguaro, palo verde, and desert broom. Desert broom's white fluffy seeds and pollen fill the air in fall — one of Tucson's most notorious allergens. Palo verde blooms intensely in April.
Mercado District tracks Tucson's broader pollen pattern, with palo verde and mesquite appearing from January with mulberry joining in and continuing through February. Grass pollen then peaks through March and April, and a second grass and weed peak follows the summer monsoon rains from July through September. The hot desert climate concentrates the main spring season, with little rainfall to interrupt pollen release.
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Pollen forecast neighborhoods 13 neighborhoods
Sports venues in Tucson 1 sports venue
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Arizona
Is pollen high in Tucson right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Tucson are high. Ambrosia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while artemisia and grass remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Tucson tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Tucson will be similar to today, with ambrosia at high levels, artemisia at moderate levels, grass at moderate levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Tucson 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 Tucson?
On 20 September 2026, Ambrosia is the dominant pollen source in Tucson. artemisia and grass are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Tucson?
How often is the Tucson pollen forecast updated?
The Tucson pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson, 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).
