Washington pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead

Today (16 July) pollen in Washington is medium; grass is medium. Tomorrow (17 July 2026) levels are similar - grass declining, ragweed at low levels. Over the following five days ragweed will increase; grass will decrease. Forecasts are calculated by Airmine using satellites to map local vegetation and determine pollen season onset.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.

How to connect?

Washington DC's richly planted urban landscape, including the National Mall and Rock Creek Park, features oak, cherry, and maple as the main tree pollen sources, with exposure varying between these green areas and the more built-up city centre. The Potomac and Anacostia river corridors add grass and reed pollen locally, while surrounding Maryland and Virginia farmland and woodland contribute additional pollen under prevailing southwesterly winds.

Today - 16 July

  • Alder (Alnus):

    None

    0/100

  • Birch (Betula):

    None

    0/100

  • Hazel (Corylus):

    None

    0/100

  • Cypress (Cupressaceae):

    None

    0/100

  • Grass (Poaceae):

    Medium

    40/100

  • Oak (Quercus):

    None

    0/100

  • Willow (Salicaceae):

    None

    0/100

  • Mugwort (Artemisia):

    None

    0/100

  • Ragweed (Ambrosia):

    None

    0/100

High pollen levels may trigger sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion. Airmine's neighbourhood estimates use satellites to map local vegetation and a statistical prediction model, updated four times daily.

Tomorrow - 17 July

  • Alder (Alnus):

    None

    0/100

  • Birch (Betula):

    None

    0/100

  • Hazel (Corylus):

    None

    0/100

  • Cypress (Cupressaceae):

    None

    0/100

  • Grass (Poaceae):

    Low

    17/100

  • Oak (Quercus):

    None

    0/100

  • Willow (Salicaceae):

    None

    0/100

  • Mugwort (Artemisia):

    None

    0/100

  • Ragweed (Ambrosia):

    Low

    3/100

Air quality in Washington

View air quality

Pollen forecast for neighborhoods and landmarks in Washington

Adams Morgan Anacostia Riverwalk Capitol Hill Dupont Circle Georgetown Jefferson Memorial Lincoln Memorial Logan Circle Meridian Hill Park National Mall National Zoo Navy Yard & Wharf Rock Creek Park Shaw Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum U Street Corridor United States Capitol Washington Monument White House

Sports venues in Washington

Gonzaga College HS's Baseball Diamond

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pollen high in Washington right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall pollen levels in Washington are moderate. Grass is the main contributor to airborne pollen

Will pollen levels change in Washington tomorrow?

On 17 July 2026, pollen conditions in Washington will be different from today, with ambrosia at low levels and grass continuing to decline

Is pollen expected to decrease in Washington this week?

According to the five-day outlook, grass pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, while ambrosia pollen will increase, suggesting mixed conditions later in the week.

Which pollen types are currently active in Washington?

On 16 July 2026, Grass is the dominant pollen source in Washington. birch, cypress, oak, willow, alder, ambrosia, and artemisia are not currently active.

When is pollen season in Washington?
Washington's pollen season opens with maple and cherry from late February, followed by oak and birch through April and May. Grass pollen peaks through June and July, with ragweed contributing from August through September. The cherry blossom season in April is accompanied by significant tree pollen release, while surrounding Maryland and Virginia farmland and woodland contribute additional pollen under prevailing southwesterly winds.
How often is the Washington pollen forecast updated?

The Washington pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.

Does pollen in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington, 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.

Want to see pollen forecasts for other cities in United States?

Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Houston Los Angeles Miami New York Philadelphia

Check pollen in other popular cities:

Rio de Janeiro Copenhagen Athens Denpasar Rome Cape Town Barcelona London Los Angeles New York

Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 05:36 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)

This page provides the latest public pollen forecast for Washington.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.