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Real-time pollen data for Albany — updated daily.
Albany's Capital Region is surrounded by dense deciduous forests that produce some of the highest tree pollen concentrations in the Northeast. Oak is the most significant tree allergen, releasing heavy, long-season pollen from April through May. Birch is a particularly important allergen in the Albany area and across upstate New York, producing highly allergenic pollen that is a major trigger for oral allergy syndrome — a cross-reactive condition where birch pollen allergy causes itching or swelling when eating raw apples, cherries, carrots, celery, and other foods. Cedar pollen appears in late winter and early spring. Maple and box elder begin pollinating early, often by March, producing visible yellow pollen. Hickory trees are common throughout the Capital Region and produce potent pollen. Willow, ash, elm, cottonwood, and sycamore contribute to the spring pollen mix. The Hudson Valley acts as a natural corridor that channels pollen from surrounding forests and agricultural areas into the Albany metro area.
Grass pollen season in Albany runs from approximately May through early July, with peak concentrations in June. Timothy grass is the most significant grass allergen in the Capital Region, found in fields, pastures, and roadsides. Sweet vernal grass is an important early-season grass allergen that begins pollinating before many other grasses. Bent grass contributes to the grass pollen burden. Kentucky bluegrass is prevalent in residential lawns, parks, and athletic fields throughout the Albany metro. Orchard grass and ryegrass are present in both residential and agricultural settings. The open farmland surrounding Albany, particularly in the Mohawk Valley to the west and the Hudson Valley extending south, allows grass pollen to travel into the city on prevailing winds.
Ragweed is the dominant fall weed allergen in the Albany area, producing highly allergenic pollen from August through October. Ragweed grows abundantly in both rural and suburban areas of the Capital Region — along roadsides, in vacant lots, on construction sites, and at field edges. Wormwood is another significant fall allergen specific to the Albany and upstate New York region. Dock, pigweed, lamb's quarters, and nettle contribute additional weed pollen during late summer and fall. The first frost, which typically arrives by mid to late October in the Albany area, ends the outdoor weed pollen season. However, climate data shows fall frosts arriving later in recent decades, extending the ragweed season.
Mold is a significant allergen throughout the Capital Region. Outdoor mold spores peak during warm, humid months and again during fall leaf decomposition. Alternaria and Cladosporium are common outdoor mold species. The Hudson River corridor and surrounding waterways create moisture-rich environments that support outdoor mold growth. Indoor mold thrives in basements — standard in Albany-area homes — where aging housing stock and seasonal moisture fluctuations create chronic dampness. Dust mites are significant year-round indoor allergens, peaking during humid summer months. Albany's cold winters drive residents indoors for five to six months, concentrating exposure to dust mites, pet dander, and indoor mold in sealed, heated homes.
Severity: Low (Outdoor) / Moderate (Indoor)
Albany's winters are among the coldest of any major city in the eastern United States, with average January temperatures in the low 20s Fahrenheit and frequent snow cover from December through March. Outdoor pollen is essentially absent during this period. However, homes sealed against the cold for five to six months concentrate indoor allergens. Forced-air heating circulates dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores. Basements in Albany's older housing stock are prone to dampness and mold. By late March, the earliest trees — elm and maple — may begin pollinating on warmer days, signaling the approaching spring surge.
Severity: High to Severe
This is Albany's most intense allergy period. Oak, birch, maple, hickory, cedar, ash, willow, and elm release pollen in overlapping waves. April is typically the worst single month, with tree pollen counts reaching their annual peak. Birch pollen is especially significant in the Capital Region and can trigger oral allergy syndrome cross-reactions with common fruits and vegetables. The Hudson Valley channels pollen from surrounding forests into the metro area. Spring temperatures in Albany have risen approximately 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, causing trees to pollinate earlier and extending the overall season. By late May, grass pollen begins overlapping with late tree pollen.
Severity: Moderate to High
Timothy grass, sweet vernal grass, bent grass, and bluegrass peak from late May through early July. June is typically the worst grass pollen month. The agricultural land and open fields surrounding Albany contribute grass pollen that drifts into the metro area. Outdoor mold spore counts begin rising as humidity and temperatures increase. This period overlaps briefly with late tree pollen in early June and early weed pollen in late July, creating transition windows with multiple allergen types airborne simultaneously.
Severity: Moderate to High
Ragweed pollen dominates from August through the first hard frost, typically arriving by mid to late October. Wormwood, dock, and pigweed contribute additional weed pollen. Fall leaf decomposition creates a significant outdoor mold surge as moisture activates spore colonies on decaying organic matter. The combination of ragweed pollen and elevated mold spores makes fall a challenging dual-allergen period. Climate data indicates that fall frosts are arriving later in the Albany region, extending the ragweed season by days to weeks compared to previous decades.
Severity: Low
The first hard freeze ends the outdoor pollen season. November and December bring genuine pollen relief for Albany residents. The transition to sealed indoor environments begins the winter indoor allergen cycle. This is the best time for deep cleaning, HVAC filter replacement, and scheduling an allergy consultation to prepare a treatment plan before the next spring season.
Albany was named one of the top 15 pollen capitals in the United States by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, reflecting the Capital Region's heavy pollen burden from surrounding forests, farmland, and the Hudson Valley corridor. If you've always assumed your allergies were manageable, Albany's ranking among the nation's worst pollen cities suggests that more aggressive treatment than over-the-counter antihistamines alone may be warranted. An allergy blood test can identify your specific triggers and guide a targeted treatment plan.
Birch trees are a major allergen in the Albany area, and birch pollen allergy commonly triggers oral allergy syndrome — a cross-reactive condition where your immune system mistakes proteins in certain raw foods for birch pollen. If you experience itching, tingling, or mild swelling in your mouth or throat when eating raw apples, cherries, peaches, carrots, celery, or hazelnuts, birch pollen allergy is the likely cause. Cooking these foods typically eliminates the reaction. If you experience these symptoms, mention them to your allergist — they confirm birch sensitization and are clinically relevant.
Climate data shows that Albany's average spring temperature has risen approximately 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, with additional warming observed in fall. This means trees pollinate earlier, grasses grow longer, and the first frost arrives later — effectively extending Albany's pollen season on both ends. If you feel like your allergies have been getting worse over the years, the data supports that perception. Seasons that once ran April through October may now stretch from late March through early November in mild years.
Albany sits in the upper Hudson Valley, and the valley acts as a natural corridor that channels pollen from forests and agricultural areas along the river system into the metro area. Prevailing winds carry tree, grass, and weed pollen from surrounding regions into the Capital District. Even if your immediate neighborhood has limited vegetation, pollen from the Mohawk Valley to the west and the Hudson Valley extending south reaches Albany on wind currents. This geographic funneling effect contributes to Albany's high pollen counts despite being an urban area.
The Capital Region's housing stock includes many older homes with basements prone to moisture accumulation. Albany's freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt, and seasonal rain create chronic dampness in basements and crawl spaces. Basement mold is a common hidden allergen source that causes year-round symptoms many residents attribute to other causes. Use a dehumidifier to keep basement humidity below 50 percent and address any water intrusion promptly.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in New York. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the Capital Region — Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, or surrounding areas — without the wait for a local specialist opening. Have allergy blood tests ordered at a convenient local lab and receive your personalized treatment plan. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building tolerance to your specific Capital Region triggers.
April and May are typically Albany's worst allergy months, when oak, birch, maple, hickory, and other trees release peak pollen loads. August through October brings a second surge from ragweed and fall mold. Albany was ranked a top-15 pollen capital nationally by the AAFA, reflecting the severity of both spring and fall seasons in the Capital Region.
The most common allergens in the Albany area are oak pollen, birch pollen, ragweed, Timothy grass, maple, mold spores, and dust mites. Birch is especially significant because it can trigger oral allergy syndrome cross-reactions with raw fruits and vegetables. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers from the full range of Capital Region allergens.
Albany sits in the upper Hudson Valley surrounded by dense deciduous forests and farmland. The valley acts as a natural corridor channeling pollen into the metro area. The Capital Region's diverse tree species, abundant grass and ragweed habitat, and climate-driven season lengthening all contribute to pollen levels that rank among the highest in the Northeast and nationally.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in New York. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the state, have allergy blood tests ordered at a lab near you, and start a personalized treatment plan without visiting a clinic. No referral needed and no waitlist.
HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy uses customized liquid drops placed under your tongue daily. The drops contain precise doses of the specific allergens triggering your symptoms — whether oak, birch, ragweed, Timothy grass, mold, or dust mites. Over time, your immune system builds tolerance, reducing allergic reactions and medication dependence. Most patients notice improvement within 3 to 6 months.
HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans, including United Healthcare, Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Oscar, and Tricare. Contact your insurance provider with Tax ID: 85-0834175 to confirm your specific telemedicine coverage.
Climate data supports this. Albany's average spring temperature has risen approximately 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, with additional fall warming. This causes earlier tree pollination, longer grass seasons, and later first frosts that extend ragweed season. Rising carbon dioxide levels also increase pollen production per plant and may make pollen grains more allergenic. The trend is measurable and ongoing.
HeyAllergy offers fast scheduling with no waitlist. Book a telemedicine appointment with a board-certified allergist and connect from home using your phone, tablet, or computer. Residents throughout the Capital Region — Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, and surrounding areas — can access care without waiting weeks for a local specialist.
Albany, the capital of New York State, holds a distinction that most residents would prefer not to have: the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has ranked it among the top 15 pollen capitals in the United States. For a city of approximately 100,000 — or roughly 900,000 in the broader Capital District metro including Schenectady, Troy, and Saratoga Springs — this ranking reflects an allergen environment that punches well above its size. The city sits at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, surrounded by dense deciduous forests to the east, north, and south, with the Mohawk Valley's agricultural land extending west. This geographic positioning creates a natural pollen funnel: winds from multiple directions carry tree, grass, and weed pollen from surrounding forests and farmland into the Capital Region, concentrating allergens in the metro area.
While oak produces the heaviest pollen loads in the Albany area, birch is arguably the most clinically significant tree allergen for Capital Region residents. Birch trees are widespread throughout upstate New York's forests and residential landscapes, and birch pollen is highly allergenic. More importantly, birch pollen allergy commonly triggers oral allergy syndrome, a cross-reactive condition where the immune system mistakes similar proteins in certain raw foods for birch pollen. Albany residents with birch sensitization may experience itching, tingling, or mild swelling when eating raw apples, cherries, peaches, plums, carrots, celery, hazelnuts, or almonds. This cross-reactivity affects a significant percentage of birch-allergic individuals and is frequently undiagnosed — many people don't connect their food reactions to their pollen allergy. Cooking typically eliminates the reactive proteins, but identifying the underlying birch sensitization through allergy testing is important for comprehensive management.
Albany provides one of the clearest examples of how climate change is affecting allergy seasons. Since 1970, average spring temperatures in the Albany area have risen approximately 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with even more warming observed in fall. This warming has measurable effects on the pollen calendar: trees begin pollinating earlier in spring, grasses maintain pollen production longer into summer, and the first hard frost that ends ragweed season arrives later in fall. The net result is a pollen season that is extending on both ends. Research shows that rising carbon dioxide concentrations also stimulate plants to produce more pollen per plant and may increase the allergenic potency of pollen grains. For Albany residents who feel their allergies have worsened over the past decade or two, the climate data confirms that perception — the seasons are measurably longer and potentially more intense than they were a generation ago.
Albany's position in the upper Hudson Valley creates a geographic pollen concentration effect that many residents don't recognize. The Hudson Valley extends south toward New York City through some of the most heavily forested terrain in the northeastern United States. The Mohawk Valley stretches west through agricultural land. These river valleys act as natural corridors that channel airflow and the pollen it carries into the Capital Region. On windy spring days, tree pollen from forests miles away funnels into Albany along these corridors. The effect is similar during fall ragweed season, when weed pollen from surrounding farmland and disturbed areas travels into the metro area with minimal geographic barriers. This corridor effect helps explain why Albany's pollen counts are disproportionately high for a relatively small urban area.
Albany's winters are among the coldest of any major city in the eastern United States. Average January temperatures hover in the low 20s Fahrenheit, and meaningful snow cover typically persists from December through March. While this cold eliminates outdoor pollen for a genuine winter break, it also means Albany homes are sealed and heated for five to six months continuously. Forced-air heating systems circulate dust, pet dander, and mold spores throughout homes with every heating cycle. The Capital Region's housing stock includes many older homes with basements prone to chronic dampness from freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt, and seasonal rain. Basement mold is one of the most common hidden indoor allergens in Albany-area homes. For residents whose allergy symptoms persist through winter when outdoor pollen is absent, indoor allergens — particularly dust mites, indoor mold, and pet dander — are nearly always the explanation.
HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects Capital Region residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in New York. A virtual consultation from your home in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, or anywhere in the surrounding area eliminates the wait for specialist availability. Allergy blood tests are ordered at a convenient local lab, and a personalized treatment plan is developed based on your specific triggers. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building your immune system's tolerance to Capital Region allergens — from oak and birch to ragweed and dust mites. For a nationally ranked pollen capital where climate change is measurably extending the allergy season year after year, identifying and treating the root cause is more important than ever.
