Zion pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Pollen Today
Today (20 September) pollen in Zion is moderate; grass and ragweed are moderate; mugwort is low.
Pollen Tomorrow
Tomorrow (21 September 2026) ragweed remains moderate, grass declining, mugwort no longer expected.
7-Day Trend
Over the next week grass, mugwort, and ragweed will increase.
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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 | 29/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 7/100 |
| 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 | 15/100 | |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 | — |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | None | 0/100 | |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | Moderate | 29/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Zion lies in the Chain O'Lakes region of Lake County, not far from the Fox River and the Chain O'Lakes wetlands. The surrounding landscape is dominated by floodplain willow and cattail marsh. The Fox River winds through the wider area, its banks favoring moisture-loving trees such as willow and alder.
The earliest pollen of the year here tends to come from willow and alder growing along the Des Plaines River, most active from late February through March. Hardwoods around the Chain O'Lakes wetlands follow, pushing tree pollen to its height through April and into May. Similar timing shows up near the Fox River and the natural areas around Grant Woods Forest Preserve, with only minor local variation.
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Resource Hub
Pollen forecast neighborhoods 2 neighborhoods
Sports venues in Zion 1 sports venue
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen in Illinois
Is pollen high in Zion right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall pollen levels in Zion are moderate. Grass is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while ambrosia and artemisia remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Zion tomorrow?
On 21 September 2026, pollen conditions in Zion will be different from today, with ambrosia at moderate levels and grass continuing to decline
Is pollen expected to decrease in Zion 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 Zion?
On 20 September 2026, Grass is the dominant pollen source in Zion. ambrosia and artemisia are also present but at lower levels.
When is pollen season in Zion?
How often is the Zion pollen forecast updated?
The Zion pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Zion 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 Zion 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 Zion, 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).
