Fairbanks Pollen Count

Updated: Monday, June 8, 2026

Welcome to a brand new week of tracking! After a short weekend break, Susan Harry is back to the microscope at the Arctic Health Research Building. Today's slides bring a mix of shifting seasons: some spring trees are finally winding down, summer species are stepping up, and she caught a beautiful, rare garden favorite under the lens!  
 

Today’s Official Counts (June 8, 2026):

Spruce (Picea): 275 (High) â€“ Down slightly from Friday's record peak, but still firmly in the High zone. The yellow dust storm continues.
 
Birch (Betula): 40 (Moderate)&²Ô²ú²õ±è;–&²Ô²ú²õ±è;BIG RELIEF! Birch has finally dropped out of the High category for the first time in a week, giving our lungs a much-needed break.
 
Alder (Alnus): 40  (Moderate) â€“ Holding perfectly steady at a manageable baseline.
 
Chokecherry / Bird Cherry (Prunus): 9  (Low) â€“ Still hanging around as late blooms finish up
 
Lilac  (Syringa): 1  (Low)&²Ô²ú²õ±è;–&²Ô²ú²õ±è;RARE FIND! Look at the photos on the Cooperative Extension Facebook/Instagram page to see this gorgeous newcomer.
 
Sedge (Cyperaceae): 5 (Moderate) â€“ Climbing steadily into the Moderate zone as our local wetlands and lawns mature.
 
Mold* Spores: 972 (Low) â€“ Creeping upward as the summer soils warm up, though still technically in the "Low" threshold nationally.

 *Pollen counts are certified by the National Allergy Bureau; Mold counts are independently analyzed and provided for general informational and educational purposes only.

 
Note on Chokecherry / Bird Cherry: You'll notice we have officially combined these into a single category on our daily log. Under the microscope, the pollen grains of chokecherry and European bird cherry (Prunus species) look so identical that they are nearly impossible to reliably differentiate. To maintain scientific integrity, we lump them together under one umbrella—just like we do earlier in the spring with poplar, cottonwood and aspen (Populus species).
Susan Harry’s Pollen Counts are provided by One Tree Alaska, with help from Â鶹ԭ´´F Cooperative Extension.

View the National Allergy Bureau chart to see what low, moderate, high and very high levels of pollen are per species.

This page will be updated during the Fairbanks pollen season.

KEY: Green is low; yellow is moderate; orange is high; red is very high.