Fairbanks Pollen Count

Updated: Wednesday, May 27, 2026

For the first time in nearly two weeks, birch has dropped into the double digits (92). While still "high" by medical standards, the density on the slides is visibly thinning.
Spruce is catching up: Spruce has jumped from 15 to 81 today. We are officially entering the "yellow dust" era of Fairbanks spring. At this rate, spruce may overtake birch as the most numerous grain by Thursday or Friday.
Alder has dropped to 28, continuing its slow decline as the trees transition from flowering to leafing out.

Birch - 92 - high

Spruce - 81 - moderate

Alder - 28 - moderate

Poplar/cottonwood/aspen - 3 - low

Willow - 1 - low

Susan Harry’s Pollen Counts are provided by One Tree Alaska, with help from UAF Cooperative Extension.

View the National Allergy Bureau chart to see what low, moderate, high and very high levels of pollen are per species.

This page will be updated during the Fairbanks pollen season.

KEY: Green is low; yellow is moderate; orange is high; red is very high.

Previous Count Dates