How to clean pollen from your car
Pollen is abrasive and can damage your car’s paint if you’re not careful. Introducing how to care for your car during pollen season.
This is the season when itchy eyes and runny noses become a concern.
Spring is officially here, and pollen levels are increasing across the country, providing little relief for those suffering from seasonal allergies.
More than 80 million Americans are estimated to experience seasonal or environmental allergies, according to data from the Allergy & Asthma Network.
Pollen typically comes from trees in the spring, grass in the summer, and weeds in the fall. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it can cause seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, with symptoms such as sneezing, bloodshot eyes, and watery eyes.
However, the strength and timing of pollen dispersal each year differs depending on the region. Here’s what you need to know about pollen season so far.
Where are seasonal allergies already having a negative impact?
The peak pollen season varies depending on the type of pollen and location in the country.
According to AccuWeather’s 2026 forecast, tree pollen is expected to peak in mid-April across the central region of the country, including states such as Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, where high levels are expected.
States in the northern half of the continental United States, from Washington state to New England, see peak pollen levels in mid-May.
According to AccuWeather, summer grass pollen is expected to begin impacting the south in May and then move north in June and July.
Which city will have the worst pollen count this year?
These cities are expected to be hit hardest by pollen this year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s annual Allergy Capitals Report.
- boise, idaho
- San Diego, California
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Provo, Utah
- Rochester, New York
- Wichita, Kansas
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Ogden, Utah
- spokane, washington
- Greenville, South Carolina
- San Francisco, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Richmond, Virginia
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- little rock, arkansas
- toledo, ohio
- new orleans louisiana
- Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Lakeland, Florida
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
