Iowa Pollen Count Today

Check today's pollen count by city in Iowa. Explore local allergy forecasts, monitor common seasonal allergens, and use city-level trends to plan around high pollen days.

Allergy Ava organizes statewide and local pollen information so you can compare conditions, anticipate seasonal flare-ups, and find relevant allergy forecast pages faster.

Today's pollen count in Iowa

Pollen levels in Iowa can vary by city, weather, vegetation, and season. Choose a local forecast below to see the current allergy index, main allergen, and 5-day outlook for cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Ankeny, Iowa City.

Today's statewide signal

Iowa pollen count by city: Corn Belt wind, river corridors, grass, and ragweed

Iowa allergy conditions shift with spring tree bloom, prairie and lawn grasses, crop-country wind, river corridors, storms, and late-summer ragweed. Compare Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Ankeny, Iowa City, West Des Moines, and Ames for local pollen levels, dominant allergens, weather context, and short-term trend signals.

Data updates regularly to reflect current conditions across Iowa cities.

Highest city index now

Sioux City

Birch · Very High

Average pollen index: 4
Average humidity: 65%
Average wind: 12 mph

Live city comparison

Today's pollen and weather by city

Sort Iowa cities by pollen index, temperature, or trend. Select a city for its full local forecast.

		Main allergen			Weather context
Sioux City	5Very High	Birch	Falling Forecast eases toward low conditions tomorrow.	80°F	Breezy 16 mph wind can disperse birch pollen quickly today.
Cedar Rapids	4High	Maple	Rising Forecast moves toward high conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Humid Humid air may keep maple and outdoor mold irritation active.
Davenport	4High	Maple	Rising Forecast moves toward very high conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Partly sunny Watch maple levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.
Ankeny	4High	Birch	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near low conditions.	79°F	Partly sunny 14 mph wind can disperse birch pollen quickly today.
Iowa City	4High	Maple	Rising Forecast moves toward moderate conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Partly sunny Watch maple levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.
Ames	4High	Oak	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near none conditions.	79°F	Breezy 18 mph wind can disperse oak pollen quickly today.
Des Moines	3Moderate	Birch	Falling Forecast eases toward moderate conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Humid Humid air may keep birch and outdoor mold irritation active.
West Des Moines	3Moderate	Oak	Falling Forecast eases toward low conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Partly sunny Watch oak levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.

Sioux City

Birch is the main allergen

Very High

Pollen index

Trend

Falling

80°16 mph46%

16 mph wind can disperse birch pollen quickly today.

Cedar Rapids

Maple is the main allergen

High

Pollen index

Trend

Rising

79°11 mph75%

Humid air may keep maple and outdoor mold irritation active.

Davenport

Maple is the main allergen

High

Pollen index

Trend

Rising

79°10 mph61%

Watch maple levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.

Ankeny

Birch is the main allergen

High

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°14 mph66%

14 mph wind can disperse birch pollen quickly today.

Iowa City

Maple is the main allergen

High

Pollen index

Trend

Rising

79°8 mph68%

Watch maple levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.

Ames

Oak is the main allergen

High

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°18 mph62%

18 mph wind can disperse oak pollen quickly today.

Des Moines

Birch is the main allergen

Moderate

Pollen index

Trend

Falling

79°7 mph79%

Humid air may keep birch and outdoor mold irritation active.

West Des Moines

Oak is the main allergen

Moderate

Pollen index

Trend

Falling

79°14 mph66%

Watch oak levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.

Regional allergy forecast

How Iowa regions compare today

Des Moines metro and central Iowa corridor

Central Iowa combines mature neighborhood trees, suburban lawns, parks, university landscapes, construction edges, and nearby field borders. Wind can move grass and ragweed pollen across the metro quickly.

MapleOakBluegrassRagweed

Index: 4
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 13

Eastern Iowa and Mississippi River edge

Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Davenport sit near river corridors, wooded neighborhoods, campuses, parks, and humid storm tracks. Spring trees and fall ragweed can feel stronger after fast weather changes.

OakMapleGrassMold

Index: 4
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 10

Sioux City and western Iowa open-country belt

Sioux City has more western Iowa wind exposure, river-bluff terrain, open land, grasses, cottonwood corridors, and field-edge weeds. Dry breezes can make pollen and dust feel more irritating.

CottonwoodElmGrassRagweed

Index: 5
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 16

State-specific pollen calendar

When major allergens are active in Iowa

Trees

April to May

AprMay

Maple, oak, elm, birch, cottonwood, ash, cedar or juniper, and walnut can drive spring symptoms. Southern and river-corridor locations may start slightly earlier in warm springs.

Grasses

May to July

MayJunJul

Bluegrass, timothy, brome, ryegrass, orchard grass, lawns, parks, roadsides, pastures, and field edges can raise grass pollen during warm, dry, breezy stretches.

Weeds

August to October

AugSepOct

Common ragweed and giant ragweed are major late-season triggers, with pigweed, lamb’s quarters, plantain, and other disturbed-ground weeds adding pressure until repeated cold nights or a hard freeze.

Low pollen and indoor season

November to March

NovDecJanFebMar

Outdoor pollen usually drops after hard freezes, but indoor dust, pet dander, basement mold, dry heated air, and spring thaw moisture can still irritate symptoms.

Weather-pollen correlation

What weather means for today's allergy risk

Wind can disperse pollen, rain can temporarily wash particles down, and humidity can increase mold irritation. The city table combines pollen and weather signals so users can compare outdoor risk without opening every city page.

Loading city data

Preparing today's Iowa pollen dashboard

About Pollen in Iowa

Iowa allergy sufferers can use this page to monitor pollen trends and find relevant city forecasts when available. Pollen levels vary by season, with tree pollen often peaking in spring, grass pollen becoming more active in late spring and summer, and weed pollen, especially ragweed, remaining a concern in late summer and fall.

Use Allergy Ava's city-level forecasts to plan outdoor activities, manage medication timing, and stay informed about the allergens most prevalent in your area. Our data is updated regularly to give you the most accurate picture of current conditions.

Frequently asked questions about Iowa pollen forecasts

Why can Iowa pollen change so much after a front moves through?

Iowa’s open terrain lets wind move pollen, dust, grass particles, and ragweed across long distances. A front can clear the air for a while, then quickly replace it with new pollen from fields, roadsides, and nearby cities.

Is corn pollen the main cause of Iowa late-summer allergies?

Usually, no. Corn pollen can bother some people near fields during tasseling, but late-summer and fall symptoms are more often tied to ragweed and other weeds because their lighter pollen travels farther.

When does ragweed peak in Iowa?

Ragweed usually becomes noticeable in August and often remains important into September or October. Dry, breezy weather can spread both common ragweed and giant ragweed pollen across metro and rural areas.

Why might Davenport or Cedar Rapids differ from Des Moines?

Eastern Iowa has more river-corridor moisture, wooded neighborhoods, and storm-track influence, while Des Moines reflects central Iowa suburbs, parks, and open-field edges. Those differences can change the main allergen and daily severity.