Follow Us
*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 Springfield — updated daily.
Springfield's tree pollen season begins earlier than much of northern Illinois due to central Illinois's slightly warmer climate, with some trees starting to pollinate in late February. Oak is the most significant tree allergen in the region, producing heavy, long-season pollen from March through May. Hickory and pecan trees are common throughout central Illinois and produce particularly potent, highly allergenic pollen. Ash trees contribute pollen during spring, though the emerald ash borer has reduced ash populations in recent years. Cedar pollen appears in late winter and early spring. Maple and box elder begin pollinating early, sometimes by late February, with visible yellow pollen coating surfaces. Elm starts pollinating before most other trees, often in February. Walnut, mulberry, willow, cottonwood, and sycamore round out the spring tree allergen mix. Springfield's position in the prairie-forest transition zone means both prairie-edge trees and planted urban species contribute to the overall tree pollen burden.
Grass pollen is one of the most potent allergen categories in Springfield. Central Illinois is part of the tallgrass prairie region, and both native prairie grasses and cultivated lawn grasses produce significant pollen. Timothy grass is a major allergen found in fields, roadsides, and pastures throughout the region. Kentucky bluegrass is ubiquitous in Springfield lawns, parks, and athletic fields. Ryegrass contributes to the grass pollen season. Orchard grass, bent grass, and fescue are present in both residential and agricultural settings. Bermuda grass appears in warmer months. The flat, open terrain of central Illinois allows grass pollen to travel remarkable distances on prairie winds — even residents far from grasslands receive significant exposure as pollen drifts from surrounding agricultural areas and open fields into the city.
Fall weed pollen season is one of Springfield's most challenging allergy periods. Ragweed is the dominant allergen, and central Illinois is prime ragweed territory. Both common ragweed and giant ragweed thrive in the region's disturbed soils, field edges, roadsides, and vacant lots. A single ragweed plant can produce up to a billion pollen grains per season, and ragweed pollen is so lightweight it has been detected up to 400 miles from its source and 2 miles high in the atmosphere. In flat, open central Illinois, there are no mountains or geographic barriers to slow ragweed pollen dispersal. Marsh elder is another significant fall allergen specific to the Springfield and central Illinois region. Pigweed, lamb's quarters, and dock contribute additional weed pollen. The weed pollen season continues until the first hard freeze, which typically arrives in October but can be delayed into November in mild years.
Mold is a significant allergen in Springfield, driven by the humid summers and the agricultural cycle. Alternaria and Cladosporium are common outdoor mold species that peak during warm, humid months and during crop harvest when disturbed plant material releases stored spores. Fall leaf decomposition creates another mold surge. Indoor mold thrives in basements, which are common in Springfield homes and prone to moisture accumulation. Dust mites are significant year-round indoor allergens, though they peak during humid summer months. Springfield's cold winters drive residents indoors for extended periods, increasing exposure to indoor allergens including dust mites, pet dander, and cockroach allergen in sealed, heated homes.
Severity: Low (Outdoor) / Moderate (Indoor)
Springfield's cold winters provide genuine relief from outdoor pollen — unlike southern cities, the ground is frozen or snow-covered and vegetation is dormant. However, homes sealed against the cold concentrate indoor allergens. Dust mites, pet dander, and indoor mold in basements become primary triggers. Forced-air heating systems circulate dust and allergens throughout homes. By late February, the earliest trees — elm and maple — may begin pollinating on warmer days, signaling the approaching spring season. This is the best time to see an allergist and start preventive treatment before spring arrives.
Severity: High to Severe
This is Springfield's first major allergy surge. Oak, hickory, ash, cedar, maple, walnut, mulberry, and elm release pollen in overlapping waves from March through May. Central Illinois's slightly warmer climate compared to Chicago means tree pollen season starts one to two weeks earlier. By late April and May, grass pollen begins overlapping with late tree pollen, compounding the allergen burden. Warm, windy spring days scatter pollen across the flat prairie landscape with no geographic barriers to limit dispersal. Wet springs can delay pollen release but produce more vigorous tree growth that results in heavier pollen loads once conditions dry.
Severity: Moderate to High
Timothy grass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and orchard grass peak from late May through July. Springfield's hot, humid summers create ideal conditions for outdoor mold growth. Afternoon thunderstorms temporarily wash pollen from the air but spike mold spore counts. By August, early ragweed pollen begins appearing, overlapping with the tail end of grass season. The combination of grass pollen, emerging weed pollen, and elevated mold creates a multi-allergen burden during the hottest weeks of summer.
Severity: High to Severe
Fall is Springfield's second-worst allergy period. Ragweed dominates, with central Illinois serving as prime habitat for both common and giant ragweed. The flat prairie terrain offers no barriers to ragweed pollen dispersal, allowing it to travel hundreds of miles on wind. Marsh elder, pigweed, and lamb's quarters contribute additional weed pollen. Fall crop harvest disturbs agricultural fields surrounding Springfield, releasing stored mold spores and agricultural dust into the air. Leaf decomposition adds to the mold burden. The season continues until the first hard freeze, which typically arrives by late October but has been arriving later in recent years.
Severity: Low
The first hard freeze ends the outdoor pollen season. November and December bring the closest thing Springfield has to an allergy-free period for pollen-sensitive residents. However, the transition to sealed indoor environments begins the indoor allergen season. Forced-air heating stirs up dust and circulates indoor allergens. Mold in basements and damp areas persists. Holiday gatherings with pets can trigger pet dander reactions. This is a good window for deep cleaning, HVAC filter replacement, and preparing for the next spring season.
Springfield sits in the heart of the Illinois prairie with no mountains, hills, or geographic barriers to block pollen dispersal. Ragweed pollen has been detected up to 400 miles from its source, and central Illinois's flat, open landscape is ideal for long-distance pollen transport. Even if your immediate neighborhood has minimal vegetation, pollen from surrounding agricultural fields, prairies, and distant sources reaches you on prairie winds. This means pollen counts can be high on windy days even in the most urban parts of Springfield. Monitor pollen counts daily and limit outdoor time on windy days during peak seasons.
Central Illinois is prime ragweed territory. Both common ragweed and giant ragweed are widespread, thriving in the region's disturbed soils, field edges, roadsides, construction sites, and vacant lots. If your allergies are worst from August through October and improve dramatically after the first hard freeze, ragweed is very likely your primary trigger. A blood allergy test can confirm this and help guide targeted treatment rather than relying on over-the-counter medications that only mask symptoms.
When corn and soybean fields surrounding Springfield are harvested in fall, the mechanical disturbance sends agricultural dust, mold spores from decomposing crop residue, and particulate matter into the air. If your symptoms worsen during harvest season — typically September through November — it may not be pollen alone. The combination of ragweed pollen, harvest dust, and mold creates a triple allergen burden that distinguishes central Illinois fall from fall allergy seasons in non-agricultural regions. Consider running a HEPA air purifier during harvest season even on low-pollen-count days.
In central Illinois, the earliest trees can begin pollinating by late February on warm days — one to two weeks ahead of northern Illinois. By the time you notice symptoms, the inflammatory cascade is already underway and harder to control. Start antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids in mid-February, before symptoms appear. Getting ahead of inflammation is far more effective than trying to suppress it once established. If your current medication stops working mid-season, your triggers may have shifted from trees to grasses, and your treatment approach may need to adjust.
Springfield homes commonly have basements, and central Illinois's clay-heavy soil and seasonal moisture make basements prone to dampness and mold growth. Basement mold can be a hidden source of year-round allergy symptoms that many residents don't connect to their congestion or asthma. Use a dehumidifier to keep basement humidity below 50 percent. Check for water intrusion after heavy rains. If you notice musty odors, visible mold, or symptoms that persist regardless of outdoor pollen counts, indoor mold may be a contributing factor.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Illinois. Book a virtual consultation from Springfield without traveling to a larger city for specialist care. 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 central Illinois triggers — from oak and ragweed to Timothy grass and dust mites.
Springfield has two peak allergy periods. March through May brings heavy tree pollen from oak, hickory, ash, maple, and others overlapping with early grass pollen. August through October is dominated by ragweed, one of the most potent allergens, combined with fall harvest dust and mold. The flat prairie terrain allows pollen to travel extraordinary distances, intensifying both seasons.
The most common allergens in the Springfield area are oak pollen, ragweed, Timothy grass, Kentucky bluegrass, hickory, mold spores, and dust mites. Ragweed is the single most impactful fall allergen, while oak typically causes the most spring symptoms. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers from the full range of central Illinois allergens.
Springfield sits in flat, open central Illinois prairie surrounded by millions of acres of farmland. There are no mountains or geographic barriers to block pollen dispersal, so pollen travels hundreds of miles on wind. The agricultural landscape supports abundant ragweed, and fall crop harvest stirs up additional mold spores and dust. The combination of unobstructed pollen travel, heavy ragweed habitat, and agricultural activity creates an especially challenging allergy environment.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Illinois. 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, 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.
Outdoor pollen season in Springfield ends with the first hard freeze, which typically arrives by late October but has been arriving later in recent years due to warmer fall temperatures. After the freeze, pollen allergies cease until late February or March. However, indoor allergens including dust mites, mold, and pet dander persist year-round, especially during winter when homes are sealed and heated.
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. No need to wait weeks for a specialist opening or drive to a larger city for care.
Springfield, Illinois — the state capital and Abraham Lincoln's hometown — sits in the heart of central Illinois's prairie landscape. With a population of approximately 115,000, it is surrounded by some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. Over half of Illinois's land area is planted in corn and soybeans alone, and Springfield is at the center of this vast agricultural expanse. For allergy sufferers, the flat, open terrain creates a distinctive challenge: there are no mountains, ridges, or significant geographic barriers anywhere in central Illinois to block pollen dispersal. Prairie winds carry tree, grass, and weed pollen across the landscape with minimal resistance. A ragweed plant in a field 50 miles from Springfield can contribute to the pollen count inside the city. This flat-terrain, agriculture-surrounded environment makes Springfield's allergy profile fundamentally different from cities in mountainous, coastal, or heavily forested regions.
If there is one allergen that defines Springfield's fall allergy experience, it is ragweed. Central Illinois provides ideal conditions for both common ragweed and giant ragweed: disturbed soils from farming, abundant field edges, roadsides, and open lots where ragweed thrives. The plant is so problematic that ragweed is listed on Illinois's noxious weed list for municipalities, making it illegal to allow ragweed to grow on property within city limits. Despite this regulation, ragweed remains ubiquitous — a single plant produces up to a billion pollen grains per season, and the pollen is so lightweight it has been detected 400 miles from its source and 2 miles high in the atmosphere. In flat central Illinois, there is nothing to stop this pollen from saturating the region. For Springfield residents allergic to ragweed, August through October is a period of sustained, intense exposure that over-the-counter antihistamines often struggle to fully control.
Springfield's allergy challenges extend beyond traditional pollen. The city is surrounded by millions of acres of active farmland, and the annual agricultural cycle creates allergen exposure that residents of non-agricultural cities simply don't experience. During fall harvest season, the mechanical harvesting of corn and soybeans sends clouds of agricultural dust, decomposing crop residue, and stored mold spores into the air. This harvest dust can travel for miles from the fields into Springfield on wind. For residents who notice their symptoms worsen during September through November even on days when pollen counts show as moderate, agricultural dust and mold are often the unrecognized contributors. The spring planting season also generates dust as fields are tilled and prepared, though this is typically less impactful than fall harvest.
Springfield's continental climate features genuine four-season variation that shapes the allergy calendar. Cold winters with temperatures regularly below freezing provide a true pollen-free period — a benefit that residents of southern cities never receive. However, this cold season drives residents indoors for months, concentrating exposure to indoor allergens. Spring arrives with rapid warming that triggers explosive tree pollen release. Hot, humid summers support heavy grass pollen production and outdoor mold growth. Fall brings the ragweed surge combined with harvest activity. Each season presents a distinct allergen profile, meaning residents with multiple allergies face a shifting set of triggers throughout the year. Climate data suggests that central Illinois's growing season is gradually extending, with first frosts arriving later and spring warmth arriving earlier, which may lengthen the overall pollen season in coming years.
Springfield's winters are genuinely cold, with average January temperatures in the low 20s Fahrenheit and frequent snow cover. Homes are sealed tightly and heated for months, creating an extended indoor allergen exposure season that is often overlooked. Forced-air heating systems — the most common type in Springfield homes — circulate dust, pet dander, and mold spores throughout the house with every heating cycle. Basements, which are standard in central Illinois construction, are prone to dampness and mold growth due to the region's clay-heavy soil and seasonal moisture fluctuations. For Springfield residents whose allergy symptoms persist during the supposedly pollen-free winter months, indoor allergens are the most likely explanation. Proper HVAC filtration, humidity control, and basement moisture management can make a significant difference in year-round symptom control.
As a mid-size city, Springfield has fewer allergy specialists than metropolitan areas like Chicago. HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects central Illinois residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in the state without requiring a trip to a larger city. A virtual consultation from home identifies your specific triggers through blood testing at a convenient local lab, and a personalized treatment plan is developed. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building your immune system's tolerance to central Illinois allergens. For a city where ragweed, oak, prairie grasses, agricultural dust, and indoor mold create challenges across every season, identifying and treating your specific triggers is more effective than cycling through over-the-counter medications that only mask symptoms.
