Daily Student Allergy & Pollen Forecast for May 15, 2026

📊 TODAY’S ALLERGY OUTLOOK

🟢 Low (Clear Air Day) | 🟡 Moderate (Pre-Treat Day) | 🔴 High (Red Zone)

• 🌿 Dominant Pollen: Oak, Birch, and Maple trees are peaking across the North, while Grass pollen is surging in the South and Plains.

• 🏫 Student Impact Level: High.

• 🤧 Today’s Sneeze Prediction: Pollen levels are surging northward as spring warmth expands, creating an intense “overlap” of tree and grass allergens for most of the country.

⚠️ What This Means For Students:

• Symptom Expectation: Watery eyes, “scratchy” throats, and heavy sneezing during morning drop-off.

• School Performance: Allergy “brain fog” can reduce focus and standardized test scores by 10-15%.

• Outdoor Activity: High-risk students should prioritize indoor recess between 10 AM – 2 PM, when daily pollen counts typically peak.

🗺️ THE 50-STATE ALLERGY BREAKDOWN

Alabama (AL): 🔴 High – Grass pollen is ramping up quickly following recent warm rain.

Alaska (AK): 🟡 Moderate – Tree pollen is finally beginning to climb as spring reaches the far north.

Arizona (AZ): 🔴 High – Tree pollen remains elevated, though desert weeds are also starting to trigger symptoms.

Arkansas (AR): 🔴 High – Overlapping tree and grass cycles are making outdoor play difficult for sensitive students.

California (CA): 🔴 High – Intense tree pollen continues in the north, while grass takes over in Southern California.

Colorado (CO): 🟡 Moderate – High-altitude tree pollen is active; weed season in the Rockies is expected to be intense later.

Connecticut (CT): 🟡 Moderate – Cooler spring temperatures in New England have slightly delayed the peak tree surge.

Delaware (DE): 🔴 High – Maple and Oak levels are peaking, causing significant classroom “brain fog”.

Florida (FL): 🟡 Moderate – Frequent rain is helping to wash grass pollen out of the air.

Georgia (GA): 🔴 High – Oak counts remain a major concern for schools in the Atlanta area.

Hawaii (HI): 🟢 Low – Tropical flora remains steady, but air quality stays clear for most students.

Idaho (ID): 🔴 High – Boise remains a top allergy capital with extreme tree and grass pollen levels.

Illinois (IL): 🔴 High – Grass pollen is spiking early across the Great Lakes region.

Indiana (IN): 🔴 High – The Ohio Valley is currently the hardest-hit region for tree pollen.

Iowa (IA): 🔴 High – High winds are carrying tree and grass allergens across the Plains.

Kansas (KS): 🔴 High – Grass pollen is rapidly expanding as spring warmth moves through the Plains.

Kentucky (KY): 🔴 High – One of the most intense tree pollen zones in the country this spring.

Louisiana (LA): 🔴 High – A mild winter allowed tree and grass cycles to overlap aggressively.

Maine (ME): 🟢 Low – A colder spring has kept New England pollen counts below historical averages so far.

Maryland (MD): 🔴 High – Peak Oak and Birch season is in full swing for D.C.-area students.

Massachusetts (MA): 🟡 Moderate – Delayed warming has provided a temporary reprieve for New England schools.

Michigan (MI): 🔴 High – Early grass spikes are being reported across the Great Lakes.

Minnesota (MN): 🔴 High – Warming temperatures are triggering a rapid northward surge of grass pollen.

Mississippi (MS): 🔴 High – High humidity and warmth are fueling rapid plant growth and pollen release.

Missouri (MO): 🔴 High – Significant grass pollen spikes are hitting the St. Louis area.

Montana (MT): 🟡 Moderate – Tree pollen is active, but the true “Red Zone” peak is still weeks away.

Nebraska (NE): 🔴 High – Breezy conditions are dispersing high levels of grass and tree pollen.

Nevada (NV): 🔴 High – Early heat is accelerating the tree pollen season in the Southwest.

New Hampshire (NH): 🟡 Moderate – Like much of New England, air quality is better than average this May.

New Jersey (NJ): 🔴 High – Oak and Maple levels are elevated across the tri-state area.

New Mexico (NM): 🔴 High – Juniper and Oak are the primary triggers for Southwest students today.

New York (NY): 🔴 High – Tree pollen is surging northward into the Hudson Valley.

North Carolina (NC): 🔴 High – Raleigh remains a difficult spot for allergies as Oak reaches its peak.

North Dakota (ND): 🟡 Moderate – Grass pollen is starting to ramp up as the Plains warm.

Ohio (OH): 🔴 High – Facing some of the most intense tree pollen bursts in the nation.

Oklahoma (OK): 🔴 High – Tulsa continues to rank as a top “Allergy Capital” with extreme counts.

Oregon (OR): 🔴 High – Portland is seeing elevated tree pollen levels that may last several weeks.

Pennsylvania (PA): 🔴 High – High tree counts are expected following recent rounds of rain.

Rhode Island (RI): 🟡 Moderate – Air remains relatively clear compared to hard-hit southern neighbors.

South Carolina (SC): 🔴 High – Intense tree pollen season is causing high student absenteeism.

South Dakota (SD): 🟡 Moderate – Grass pollen is the main concern as temperatures climb.

Tennessee (TN): 🔴 High – The Ohio Valley’s intense tree surge is impacting Nashville schools.

Texas (TX): 🔴 High – Above-average grass pollen levels are being reported across the state.

Utah (UT): 🔴 High – Tree pollen levels are surging throughout the Southwest.

Vermont (VT): 🟢 Low – One of the few regions with air still clear enough for unlimited recess.

Virginia (VA): 🔴 High – Richmond area students are facing peak tree and early grass overlap.

Washington (WA): 🔴 High – Seattle is experiencing an earlier-than-typical tree pollen peak.

Washington, D.C. (DC): 🔴 High – Extreme tree counts are affecting school attendance in the capital.

West Virginia (WV): 🔴 High – Intense tree pollen is surging through the Appalachian valleys.

Wisconsin (WI): 🔴 High – Great Lakes students are seeing an early, intense grass pollen spike.

Wyoming (WY): 🟡 Moderate – Tree season is active, but high-risk weed spikes are expected later.

🌿 HIGH POLLEN ZONES & HOTSPOT CITIES

• Top 3 High-Risk Regions:

  1. Ohio Valley: Currently facing the highest tree pollen levels in the country.

  2. Pacific Northwest: An earlier and more intense tree season than typical.

  3. Great Lakes & Northern Plains: Seeing an early, rapid spike in grass pollen.

• 2026 Allergy Capitals:

  1. Boise, ID: Holds the top position as the most challenging city for allergies in 2026.

  2. Tulsa, OK: Consistently ranks at the top for extreme pollen counts.

  3. Oklahoma City, OK: High pollen days and low specialist availability make this a “Red Zone” city.

📊 STUDENT IMPACT TABLE

🚨 STUDENT HEALTH NEWS & ALERTS

• National Allergy Strategy 2026: A historic shift was announced where schools must now stock “spare” adrenaline auto-injectors and provide mandatory allergy awareness training for all staff by September 2026.

• Mild Winter Impact: The “Mild Winter of 2026” caused many plants to bloom earlier and more aggressively, leading to record-breaking overlapping pollen cycles this May.

🛡️ THE “SNEEZE GUARD” CHECKLIST

• 💊 The Morning Dose: Pre-treat with non-drowsy meds before school; check the 2026 local tracker daily.

• 🌳 The Recess Check: Request indoor alternatives if your state is in a 🔴 High zone to avoid peak midday exposure.

• 👕 The Clothing Reset: Change clothes and shower immediately after getting home to remove “pollen hitchhikers” from hair and skin.

🔍 Check your specific campus levels here: Schools Closings Pollen Tracker