Can you feel it? Summer is just around the corner, and everyone will be heading outdoors to enjoy the warm weather. But the same warm weather that brings summer fun also brings a wave of allergens. While spring may get the most attention with a sudden explosion of plant growth, allergy season actually lasts a lot longer.
By now, tree pollen has tapered off across much of the United States, with the upper Great Lakes region and upper northeast seeing the last of it. But grass pollen is ready to step up across the country's middle, with the southern Appalachians seeing the worst of it in June. Luckily, experts predict milder grass pollen will be present in the upper midwest and down into the southwest. Weeds will be just warming up in June kicking off on the Gulf coast where pollen is expected to be heaviest. Texas will see roughly average weed pollen counts, while the desert southwest gets a reprieve.
Here are the typical pollens that can be found across the United States this June:
Northeast
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen:, Bermuda, Johnsongrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Lamb’s Quarters, Marsh Elder, Nettle, Pigweed, Plantain, Sagebrush, Sorrel
Southeast
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen: Bahia, Bermuda, Johnsongrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Lamb’s Quarters, Nettle, Pigweed, Plantain, Russian Thistle, Sagebrush, Sorrel
Midwest
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Brome, Johnsongrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Lamb’s Quarters, Plantain, Sagebrush, Sorrel
South Central
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Johnsongrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Lamb’s Quarters, Plantain, Sagebrush, Sorrel
Southwest
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen: Bahia, Bermuda, Johnsongrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Lamb’s Quarters, Nettle, Plantain, Russian Thistle, Sagebrush, Scale, Sorrel
Northwest
Tree pollen: Black Walnut
Grass pollen: Brome, Johnsongrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Orchard, Ryegrass, Timothy
Weeds: Dock, Nettle, Plantain, Sagebrush, Scale, Sorrel
While there isn’t much you can do about outdoor pollen, there is something you can do about pollen that makes its way into your home. If you already have an air purifier you are ahead of the game, just make sure your filters are recently replaced and up to the task. Intellipure has a variety of air filtration solutions, from compact portable units all the way up to whole-house solutions. Intellipure’s DFS technology uses electronically enhanced filtration to attract and capture ultrafine particles (99.97% filtration down to 0.3 microns). Simply choose an Intellipure air purifier and breath easier knowing your indoor air is world-class.
Wildfire smoke clouds are on the horizon.
Last year, we saw record wildfires across Canada that blanketed parts of the United States with smoke. Unfortunately, 2024 has so far brought several large fires to British Columbia and Alberta, causing air quality issues in the Midwest. Already, residents of Minnesota have been warned once to stay inside to avoid the unhealthy air. Forecasts show a high probability of wildfires in Western Canada in June, so the likelihood of smoke again drifting south into the United States is high. A typical home HVAC unit filter cannot remove the ultrafine smoke particles floating in the air. While there isn’t anything that can be done about the unhealthy air outside, picking a high-quality indoor air filtration unit can improve your indoor air.
The trouble with ground-level ozone
Warmer weather at the start of summer and lots of sunlight make it easier for ground-level ozone to form. Pollutants such as car exhaust, manufacturing emissions, power plant emissions, and even paint can all lead to ground-level ozone creation. While ozone is good in the upper atmosphere, where it protects the Earth from UV rays, ground-level ozone is not so good. Ground-level ozone exposure can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and even cause lung damage. Dense urban areas are at particular risk to the high concentrations of pollutants combined with hot temperatures. When outdoor air quality warnings include high ozone levels, it’s a good idea to stay inside with a high-quality air purifier and wait for ozone levels to drop.
Intellipure air purifiers are well positioned to help you conquer allergies year round. Our solutions are engineered in the USA and trusted in nearly every industry. To find out more about the latest in clean air take a look at the Intellipure lineup and follow us on Instagram at @Intellipure.
