KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Grass pollen is now the dominant pollen type as trees slowly finish their season. We also see some midsummer genera such as Plantain (both English and American since their pollens look alike). The mold count is up today, most likely in response to the wet weather. The term mildew is often used generically to refer to any mold growth. Downy mildew are actually in the algae family but they look like fungi. They are very hydrophilic. Powdery mildews are ascospores that are common plant pathogens. They are most active during wet weather.
What time of year do allergens appear?
- Tree pollen causes allergic reactions for many people and is most common in Kansas City from late February to May.
- Grass pollen is present for most of the warmer months and typically peaks from late May to June.
- Weed pollen is most common from late summer until the first winter freeze. Peak months in Kansas City are typically September and early October.
- Ragweed is a common fall allergen and typically starts in August and can last through November.
- Mold is present to varying degrees all year, with outdoor spores starting to increase in March. Outdoor mold counts stay high most of the summer, not peaking until September or October.
Kansas City Ozone SkyCast
Air quality is tracked in Kansas City from March through October. The daily SkyCast forecasts ground-level ozone levels for the metro area. There are two different types of ozone:
- Good: ozone in the upper atmosphere shields Earth from harmful solar radiation
- Bad: ozone at ground-level is considered pollution or smog
Daily pollen levels for Downtown Kansas City are measured by PollenSense, an automated pollen particle counter that gives Children’s Mercy Hospital and FOX4 updated counts every day. Whether it is cedar, mold, cottonwood, oak, ragweed, ash, pine, mulberry, elm, poplar, or any other allergen in our area, you can track recent allergy reports here.
Ozone forecasts are also provided daily from the Mid-America Regional Council.
Kansas City Weather News
