Chicago, IL Maple Pollen

Maple pollen in Chicago usually peaks around March to April, reaching Moderate at its worst. Chicago's allergy year is a short, sharp spring and a long ragweed fall: maple and oak in spring, grass through early summer, and ragweed rolling in off the prairie in late summer.

Maple is one of the first trees to pollinate, in early spring as the city thaws.

Maple in Chicago today

Monday, July 27, 2026

Maple isn't picked up by the live pollen sensors near Chicago, so there's no daily number for it. Based on the season, July is typically None for Maple.

See Chicago's full pollen report and 5-day forecast →

Maple pollen by month in Chicago

How maple usually runs across the year. The current month is outlined.

Jan
None
Feb
None
Mar
Moderate
Apr
Moderate
May
None
Jun
None
Jul
None
Aug
None
Sep
None
Oct
None
Nov
None
Dec
None

Managing maple season in Chicago

If maple is your trigger, start a daily antihistamine like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin) a week or two before the March to April peak, rather than waiting for symptoms. Keep windows closed on high-count mornings, shower and change clothes after time outside, and run the AC on recirculate in the car.

When symptoms don't ease with over-the-counter medicine, an allergist in Illinois can test whether maple is really what you react to and talk through longer-term options like allergy shots.

Sources

More pollen in Chicago

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Seasonal pattern based on Illinois pollen data and local sources. Today's reading updated daily. MyPollenPal