Illinois Pollen Count Today

Check today's pollen count by city in Illinois. 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 Illinois

Pollen levels in Illinois 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 Chicago, Springfield, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford.

Today's statewide signal

Illinois pollen count by city: Chicago lake effect, suburbs, and prairie allergens

Illinois allergy conditions vary sharply between Chicago’s lakefront microclimate, the Fox Valley and western suburbs, Rockford’s open northern landscape, and the central Illinois prairie-and-cropland belt. Compare Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Elgin, Rockford, and Springfield for local pollen levels, dominant allergens, weather, and short-term trend context.

Data updates regularly to reflect current conditions across Illinois cities.

Highest city index now

Springfield

Elm · Low

View today's allergy index

Average pollen index: 1
Average humidity: 59%
Average wind: 11 mph

Live city comparison

Today's pollen and weather by city

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

		Main allergen			Weather context
Springfield	2Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near low conditions.	79°F	Chance of showers Watch elm levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.
Rockford	2Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near low conditions.	79°F	Humid Watch elm levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.
Elgin	2Low	Elm	Falling Forecast eases toward very low conditions tomorrow.	79°F	Partly sunny Watch elm levels and limit long outdoor exposure during peak hours.
Chicago	1Very Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near very low conditions.	78°F	Partly sunny Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.
Aurora	1Very Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near very low conditions.	79°F	Partly sunny Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.
Naperville	1Very Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near very low conditions.	79°F	Humid Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.
Joliet	1Very Low	Elm	Stable Tomorrow looks similar, near very low conditions.	79°F	Partly sunny Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.

Springfield

Elm is the main allergen

Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°11 mph63%

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

Rockford

Elm is the main allergen

Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°14 mph80%

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

Elgin

Elm is the main allergen

Low

Pollen index

Trend

Falling

79°11 mph53%

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

Chicago

Elm is the main allergen

Very Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

78°10 mph49%

Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.

Aurora

Elm is the main allergen

Very Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°7 mph54%

Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.

Naperville

Elm is the main allergen

Very Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°9 mph71%

Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.

Joliet

Elm is the main allergen

Very Low

Pollen index

Trend

Stable

79°14 mph45%

Outdoor pollen exposure looks limited for most people today.

Regional allergy forecast

How Illinois regions compare today

Chicago lakefront, Fox Valley, and southwest suburbs

Chicagoland allergy conditions can shift with lake breezes, dense street trees, suburban lawns, forest preserves, and west-to-east weather systems. Chicago’s lakefront may not match Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, or Elgin on the same day.

OakMapleGrassRagweed

Index: 1
Humidity: 54%
Wind: 10

Rockford and northern Illinois open-country belt

Rockford has less direct lake influence than Chicago and more exposure to open land, hardwood trees, grasses, and windy Midwest fronts. Spring tree pollen and fall ragweed can both swing quickly after temperature changes.

MapleOakGrassRagweed

Index: 2
Humidity: 80%
Wind: 14

Springfield and central Illinois prairie corridor

Springfield’s allergy pattern is shaped by central Illinois lawns, fields, prairie edges, weeds, and humid stretches that can raise mold concerns. Ragweed and pigweed-type weeds often become more important late in the season.

GrassRagweedPigweedMold

Index: 2
Humidity: 63%
Wind: 11

State-specific pollen calendar

When major allergens are active in Illinois

Trees

Late March to May

MarAprMay

Maple, elm, cottonwood, oak, birch, and other wind-pollinated trees can drive spring symptoms, especially in older neighborhoods, parks, forest preserves, and tree-lined suburbs.

Grasses

May to July

MayJunJul

Grass pollen rises across lawns, parks, athletic fields, prairie edges, and open land as late-spring warmth builds. Dry, breezy days can spread grass pollen efficiently across metro and rural areas.

Weeds

August to October

AugSepOct

Ragweed is the major fall driver, with pigweed, lamb’s quarters, and other weeds adding to late-season symptoms. Counts often stay relevant until repeated cold nights or a hard freeze.

Low season

December to February

DecJanFeb

Outdoor pollen is usually low after freezes, but indoor dust, pet dander, damp basements, leaf litter mold, and freeze-thaw moisture can still irritate sensitive residents.

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 Illinois pollen dashboard

Elgin, IL 60124

Call to confirm availability

(847) 888-8802

View profile

Showing 6 of 77 published allergist profiles in this area.

About Pollen in Illinois

Illinois 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.

Nearby state pollen forecasts

Comparing nearby states can help you understand regional allergy shifts, seasonal pollen timing, and conditions that may affect travel or outdoor plans.

Wisconsin pollen forecast Indiana pollen forecast Missouri pollen forecast Ohio pollen forecast

Illinois pollen forecast from Chicago to central Illinois

Illinois pollen conditions can look very different between Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and central parts of the state. Searchers looking for an Illinois pollen forecast often want to compare dense urban conditions with areas where grasses, agricultural land, and seasonal weeds can influence local allergy pressure more strongly.

Tree pollen is often a major spring trigger in Illinois, followed by grass pollen in warmer months and weed pollen later in the season. Local wind, lake effects in northern Illinois, and regional vegetation patterns can all shape day-to-day pollen exposure, which makes city-specific tracking especially helpful.

Frequently asked questions about Illinois pollen forecasts

Why can Chicago’s pollen forecast differ from Naperville or Aurora?

Lake Michigan, wind direction, and local land cover can separate Chicago’s lakefront conditions from the western suburbs. A lake breeze may change exposure near the water, while inland suburbs often reflect lawns, preserves, trees, and open-land pollen.

Is goldenrod causing my Illinois fall allergies?

Goldenrod gets blamed because it blooms when symptoms flare, but ragweed is usually the bigger fall problem. Ragweed is wind-pollinated and releases lightweight pollen that travels easily through Midwest air.

When do Illinois grass allergies usually peak?

Grass pollen typically builds from late May into July. Lawns, parks, athletic fields, roadsides, and prairie edges can all contribute, especially during warm, dry, breezy weather.

Why should Rockford or Springfield not rely only on Chicago allergy conditions?

Rockford and Springfield do not share Chicago’s lakefront microclimate. Northern Illinois open land and central Illinois prairie or agricultural surroundings can change the leading allergen, humidity pattern, and timing of daily pollen spikes.