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Santa Fe's high-desert climate, elevation near 7,200 feet, and arid conditions create a distinct and often intense allergy profile, with airborne allergens circulating nearly year-round due to mild winters and persistent winds.
Tree pollen kicks off the season early, typically from February through May, dominated by juniper and cedar—major culprits across northern New Mexico—along with piñon pine, cottonwood, elm, oak, and mulberry, with juniper peaks often hitting in March.
As trees taper, grass pollen takes over from late May through July, driven largely by Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, and native grama grasses, which can linger into late summer.
Weed season follows from August through the first hard frost, featuring ragweed, Russian thistle (tumbleweed), sagebrush, chamisa (rabbitbrush), amaranth, and saltbush; chamisa's bright yellow bloom in September is a particularly notable trigger.
Overlap between late-season grasses and early weeds in August frequently intensifies symptoms.
Beyond pollen, Santa Fe's extreme dryness, frequent spring winds, and periodic dust storms keep airborne particulates high, while wildfire smoke and indoor mold in adobe structures add seasonal burdens.
Overall, Santa Fe's allergy profile is defined by aggressive juniper springs, a robust weed season anchored by chamisa and sagebrush, and persistent dust aggravated by wind and aridity.