Forecast data is being prepared for this location.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buffalo, NY sits along the eastern shore of Lake Erie, where a humid continental climate, lake-effect moisture, and four distinct seasons create a prolonged and varied allergy calendar.
The pollen year typically begins in late March and early April as tree species release their first waves, with maple, birch, oak, ash, elm, poplar, and cottonwood dominating through May. These trees tend to peak in late April and early May, often producing the region's highest overall pollen counts of the year.
As tree season winds down, grass pollen takes over from mid-May through July, driven largely by timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard grass, and ryegrass—common across Western New York's lawns, pastures, and roadside fields. A brief overlap between late tree pollen and early grass pollen in May can noticeably intensify symptoms.
Weed season follows in August and runs through the first hard frost, usually in October, with ragweed the principal offender alongside pigweed, lamb's quarters, and plantain.
Beyond pollen, Buffalo's damp lake-influenced air fosters persistent outdoor and indoor mold, particularly in spring thaw and autumn leaf litter, while dust mites thrive during long heating seasons.
Overall, Buffalo's allergy profile is defined by a lengthy, moisture-driven season with heavy tree and ragweed exposure and significant mold pressure.