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*Disclaimer: HeyAllergy® provides all clinical services furnished to patients in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania. In New York, clinical services are furnished by Hey Allergy Medicine.
Real-time pollen data for Arlington — updated daily.
Arlington's tree pollen season begins unusually early due to mountain cedar (Ashe juniper). Cedar pollen drifts into the DFW metroplex from the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas, where Ashe juniper occupies approximately 8.6 million acres. A single mountain cedar tree can release billions of pollen grains, and prevailing winds from the west and southwest carry this pollen directly into Arlington and the Mid-Cities. Cedar pollen peaks from mid-December through February, producing the phenomenon known as cedar fever — symptoms so intense they're frequently mistaken for the flu. Cedar fever is worst west of I-35, but Arlington's position in the western DFW metroplex means it receives heavier cedar pollen than cities on the Dallas side. As cedar tapers in late February, oak pollen surges. Oak is the dominant spring allergen in North Texas, and the sheer volume of oak pollen coats cars, outdoor surfaces, and everything else in a visible green-yellow layer during March and April. Elm and ash begin pollinating in late winter, overlapping with cedar. Pecan and hickory trees are significant allergens in the North Texas landscape. Cottonwood produces large quantities of pollen along waterways and the Trinity River corridor that runs through Arlington. Mulberry is a highly allergenic tree present throughout DFW neighborhoods. Maple pollen appears in February through April. Pine contributes visible but less allergenic pollen. The transitions between cedar and spring tree pollen create weeks of overlapping allergen exposure with no break.
Grass pollen is a major allergen in Arlington and the DFW area, with the season running roughly from late April through October. Bermuda grass is the dominant grass allergen in North Texas, thriving in the hot summers. Johnson grass is common in disturbed soils, roadsides, and open areas throughout Arlington. Timothy grass is present in managed landscapes. Ryegrass contributes pollen in spring and early summer. Arlington's extensive parks, athletic fields, residential lawns, and open spaces — including the green corridors along the Trinity River and River Legacy Park — maintain active grass pollen sources throughout the growing season. The DFW metroplex's summer heat extends grass pollen production well into October, and warm fall temperatures can push the season even later.
Ragweed is the dominant fall allergen across the DFW metroplex, peaking in September and October. Ragweed pollen can cause intense hay fever symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Sagebrush contributes additional fall pollen. Pigweed and lamb's quarters are prevalent in disturbed soils and construction sites — particularly significant in Arlington given the ongoing development across the metroplex. Russian thistle (tumbleweed) produces allergenic pollen in the semi-arid landscape. The DFW area's warm fall temperatures extend the weed pollen season, and ragweed can persist into November before the first significant cold front shuts it down.
The DFW metroplex is designated a "Moderate Nonattainment Area" for the federal eight-hour ozone standard. Ground-level ozone forms when vehicle emissions and volatile organic compounds react with sunlight during hot weather. Arlington sits amid the major interstate corridors — I-30 connecting Dallas and Fort Worth, I-20 to the south, and SH-360 running north-south — all carrying heavy commuter traffic that generates nitrogen oxides. Ozone irritates airways, triggers asthma attacks, and amplifies allergic reactions to pollen. The urban heat island effect across the sprawling DFW metroplex intensifies both ozone formation and pollen production. Indoor allergens including dust mites, mold, pet dander, and cockroach allergens are active year-round, particularly during summer when homes are sealed for air conditioning.
Severity: High to Severe
While most of the country's allergy season is dormant, North Texas faces its most distinctive allergen: mountain cedar. Ashe juniper pollen from the Hill Country and Central Texas drifts into Arlington on prevailing winds, with peak counts typically hitting in mid-January through early February. Cedar fever symptoms are intense enough to be mistaken for the flu — severe nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, headache, and facial pressure. Up to 20 percent of Texans experience cedar pollen allergies. The pollen isn't particularly allergenic in itself, but the sheer concentration overwhelms immune systems. Arlington's position in the western DFW metroplex means it receives heavier cedar loads than cities further east. By late February, elm, ash, and maple begin pollinating, creating overlap with the tail end of cedar season.
Severity: High to Severe
March through May is the most intense pollen period in North Texas. Oak pollen dominates and reaches massive levels, visibly coating outdoor surfaces across Arlington. Pecan, cottonwood, mulberry, and pine add overlapping waves. By late April, grass pollen begins, overlapping with late tree pollen. The DFW area consistently ranks high on the AAFA's national Allergy Capitals list, and this spring period is the primary driver. March and April are typically the worst individual months for total pollen counts. Construction dust from ongoing DFW development adds particulate matter to the already-heavy pollen loads.
Severity: Moderate to High
Summer shifts the allergen profile from tree pollen to grass pollen and ozone. Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, and other species produce pollen through the hottest months. Average high temperatures reach 96°F in July and August, and the DFW metroplex frequently exceeds the federal ozone standard during summer. Ozone forms when the intense Texas sun reacts with vehicle emissions from the area's massive highway network. Arlington's position amid I-30, I-20, and SH-360 means consistent traffic-generated pollution. The combination of grass pollen and ozone creates a dual respiratory burden. Mold increases in humid periods, and indoor allergens intensify as homes remain sealed with air conditioning running constantly.
Severity: Moderate to High
Ragweed pollen surges in September and peaks in October, causing intense fall allergy symptoms across the DFW metroplex. Sagebrush, pigweed, and other weeds contribute additional pollen. Mold spore counts increase as fall rains begin and organic material decomposes. October is typically the second-worst month for total pollen counts in North Texas after the spring peak. By November, weed pollen gradually fades as cold fronts become more frequent. However, the fall allergy season transitions almost directly into cedar season — some years, mountain cedar pollen begins appearing as early as late November, creating nearly continuous allergen exposure from September through the following May.
Arlington sits in the western half of the DFW metroplex, and cedar fever is worse west of I-35. Mountain cedar pollen from the 8.6 million acres of Ashe juniper in the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas drifts northeastward on prevailing winds, reaching Arlington before dispersing further east toward Dallas. A single Ashe juniper tree can release billions of pollen grains. The concentration is so high that even people who don't typically suffer from allergies can develop cedar fever symptoms. Cedar pollen season runs from mid-December through February, with peaks typically in January. If you're new to North Texas and suddenly develop flu-like symptoms in winter — severe congestion, sore throat, fatigue, facial pressure — cedar fever is the likely cause, not a cold or the flu. A key diagnostic clue: if your nasal discharge is clear rather than colored, it's almost certainly an allergic reaction rather than infection.
North Texas has an almost continuous allergen cycle that leaves very little true relief. Cedar pollen runs December through February. Spring tree pollen (oak, elm, pecan, mulberry) runs March through May. Grass pollen starts in late April and continues through October. Ragweed and fall weeds cover September through November. These seasons overlap at the transitions, creating periods where cedar and spring trees, trees and grass, or grass and ragweed are all airborne simultaneously. The only months with genuinely low pollen are brief windows in late November and early December before cedar starts — and even those aren't guaranteed. If your allergies seem to never fully resolve, this continuous cycle is why.
The DFW metroplex is designated a Moderate Nonattainment Area for the federal ozone standard, meaning the region regularly exceeds safe ozone levels during hot weather. Arlington sits at the intersection of major highway corridors — I-30, I-20, and SH-360 — carrying some of the heaviest commuter traffic in the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Vehicle emissions and industrial pollutants react with intense Texas sunlight to create ground-level ozone. Ozone irritates airways, inflames respiratory tissue, and makes your immune system more reactive to pollen. If your allergy symptoms seem worse on hot, sunny days even when pollen counts aren't at peak levels, ozone exposure is likely amplifying your reactions. Check air quality forecasts and limit outdoor activity on Ozone Action Days.
The Trinity River runs through Arlington and supports a corridor of vegetation including River Legacy Park, one of the largest urban parks in DFW. These green corridors provide recreational value but also maintain significant pollen and mold sources. Cottonwood trees along waterways produce heavy pollen loads. The river corridor's moisture supports mold growth year-round. Grass pollen from the park's open areas and trail margins adds to exposure. If you live near the Trinity River corridor or exercise regularly in River Legacy Park, your allergen exposure may be higher than residents in more developed parts of Arlington.
Arlington's position in the growing DFW metroplex means thousands of new residents arrive annually from other states. Many of these newcomers have never been exposed to mountain cedar pollen and don't initially react to it. However, after one to three years of exposure, many develop cedar fever sensitivity. Up to 20 percent of Texans experience cedar pollen allergies. If you moved to Arlington recently and suddenly develop severe winter allergy symptoms you've never had before, cedar fever is the most likely explanation. Professional allergy testing can confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment planning — starting immunotherapy in spring or summer gives your immune system six to twelve months to build tolerance before the next cedar season.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. Book a virtual consultation from your home in Arlington, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Kennedale, or anywhere in the Mid-Cities area. 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 North Texas triggers — from mountain cedar and oak to ragweed and dust mites. In a metroplex where the allergen calendar runs nearly year-round, treating the underlying cause offers relief that rotating seasonal medications alone cannot sustain.
January is the worst month for cedar fever, while March and April bring peak oak pollen. September and October see intense ragweed. The DFW allergen calendar has almost no true off-season — cedar runs December through February, trees peak March through May, grass covers April through October, and ragweed fills September through November, with overlapping transitions between each season.
The most common allergens in Arlington are mountain cedar (Ashe juniper), oak, Bermuda grass, ragweed, elm, pecan, dust mites, and mold. Mountain cedar is the most distinctive North Texas allergen — up to 20 percent of Texans develop cedar pollen allergies. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers from the full range of DFW allergens.
Cedar fever is an intense allergic reaction to pollen from mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) trees. These trees occupy 8.6 million acres in the Texas Hill Country and release billions of pollen grains in winter. Prevailing winds carry the pollen northeast into the DFW metroplex. Arlington's position in the western half of DFW means it receives heavier cedar loads than cities further east. Symptoms include severe congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and facial pressure.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. 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 mountain cedar, oak, ragweed, Bermuda 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.
Nearly. The DFW allergen calendar runs almost continuously: cedar (December–February), spring trees (March–May), grass (April–October), and ragweed (September–November). These seasons overlap at their transitions, leaving only brief windows in late November and early December with genuinely low pollen. Ozone adds a respiratory burden during summer, and indoor allergens are active year-round.
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. Arlington and Mid-Cities residents can access specialist care immediately without waiting weeks for a local opening.
Arlington, Texas, sits at the geographic heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex with approximately 395,000 residents, making it the third most economically important city in the nation's fourth-largest metropolitan area. Known as the Entertainment Capital of Texas for its stadiums and theme parks, Arlington occupies the "Mid-Cities" zone between Dallas to the east and Fort Worth to the west. This central position has significant implications for allergy sufferers: Arlington catches mountain cedar pollen drifting from the Hill Country to the southwest, receives the full force of spring oak pollen that blankets all of North Texas, sits amid the massive highway network that generates the DFW area's persistent ozone problems, and experiences the humid subtropical climate that drives year-round mold and dust mite growth. The city's rolling hills and Trinity River corridor add local vegetation-driven allergens to the regional picture.
Mountain cedar — actually Ashe juniper — is the most distinctive allergen in the North Texas landscape. These trees occupy approximately 8.6 million acres in the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas. Each tree can release billions of pollen grains, and prevailing winds from the west and southwest carry this pollen directly into the DFW metroplex. Cedar fever peaks from mid-December through February, making it one of the very few significant winter allergens in the United States. The symptoms are so intense — severe nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, headache, facial pressure — that they're frequently mistaken for the flu. The pollen itself isn't unusually allergenic, but the concentration is so extreme that it overwhelms immune systems even in people who don't typically suffer from allergies. Arlington's position in the western half of DFW means it receives heavier cedar pollen loads than cities on the Dallas side. Up to 20 percent of Texans develop cedar pollen allergies, and the phenomenon is so culturally significant in Texas that it has its own name and season.
As cedar fever tapers in late February, North Texas transitions almost immediately into spring tree pollen season. Oak is the dominant spring allergen and produces extraordinary quantities of pollen. During peak weeks in March and April, oak pollen visibly coats cars, outdoor furniture, sidewalks, and every exposed surface in a green-yellow layer. Pecan and hickory trees are significant allergens in the North Texas landscape, and pecan pollen is particularly problematic because the trees are so widespread. Cottonwood lines waterways including the Trinity River corridor through Arlington. Elm, ash, mulberry, and maple contribute overlapping pollen waves. The DFW area consistently ranks high on the AAFA's national Allergy Capitals list, and this spring period is the primary reason. The transition from cedar to spring tree pollen creates weeks of overlapping exposure with no relief between seasons.
The DFW metroplex is designated a Moderate Nonattainment Area for the federal eight-hour ozone standard, meaning the region regularly fails to meet air quality standards during hot weather. Ground-level ozone forms when vehicle emissions and volatile organic compounds react with sunlight and heat. The DFW area's massive highway network — including I-30, I-20, I-35, and dozens of state highways carrying commuter traffic across the fourth-largest metro in the country — generates substantial nitrogen oxides. Arlington's position at the intersection of I-30, I-20, and SH-360 places it amid some of the heaviest traffic corridors. Summer temperatures averaging 96°F create ideal ozone formation conditions. The coincidence of peak ozone and peak grass pollen during summer means both chemical and biological respiratory irritants attack simultaneously. Ozone inflames airways and makes the immune system more reactive to allergens, creating a compounding effect that makes summer allergy symptoms worse than pollen counts alone would predict.
North Texas has one of the most relentless allergen calendars in the United States. Cedar pollen runs from December through February. Spring tree pollen (oak, elm, pecan, mulberry, cottonwood) covers March through May. Grass pollen starts in late April and continues through October. Ragweed and fall weeds run from September through November. Each season overlaps the next at its transitions, creating periods where multiple allergen types are airborne simultaneously. The result is that North Texas residents experience approximately 10 to 11 months of significant outdoor allergen exposure, with only brief windows in late November and early December offering genuine relief before cedar starts the cycle again. This near-continuous exposure is why many DFW residents feel their allergies never fully resolve and why seasonal over-the-counter medications provide incomplete relief.
HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects Arlington and Mid-Cities residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. A virtual consultation from your home eliminates the need to navigate DFW traffic to see a specialist. 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 North Texas allergens. In a metroplex where the allergen calendar runs nearly year-round and ozone adds a chemical respiratory burden on top of biological allergens, treating the underlying cause of your allergies offers sustained relief that rotating seasonal medications cannot match.
