Cicero, IL Pollen Levels Today

Cicero, Illinois, a densely populated suburb bordering Chicago, experiences a humid continental climate that produces a prolonged and varied allergy season stretching from early spring through late fall.

Tree pollen is the first major trigger, typically emerging in March and peaking between April and May, with oak, maple, birch, ash, elm, cottonwood, and mulberry ranking among the most prevalent local offenders.

As tree pollen tapers, grass pollen takes over from late May through July, driven primarily by Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, orchard grass, and ryegrass—species widespread across Cicero's lawns, parks, and nearby prairie remnants.

Weed pollen then dominates from August through the first hard frost in October, with short and giant ragweed being the most significant culprits, alongside lamb's quarters, pigweed, and sagebrush.

Overlap between late-season grasses and early ragweed in August often intensifies symptoms for multi-sensitive individuals.

Beyond pollen, Cicero residents contend with substantial mold spore activity fueled by humid summers and damp autumn leaf litter, as well as elevated urban air pollution, diesel particulates from nearby expressways, and indoor dust mites thriving in older housing stock.

Overall, Cicero's allergy profile is defined by a long, layered pollen calendar compounded by urban air quality and Midwestern humidity-driven mold.