Austin cedar pollen · todayHaze
16grains/m³NAB band · Moderate
Up from yesterday's high of 13
Austin, Texas · Tuesday, October 27
History · daily highs
In the past week, cedar hit Moderate on 5 of 7 days, peaking at 27.
Loading the seven-day chart
The supply shelf · paid links
The cedar season kit.
A few practical supplies for the days cedar follows you home.
If this morning’s reading has become part of your routine, thank you. ATX Cedar Watch is an independent tracker, kept free for anyone who needs it. If you were already going to pick up one of these supplies, buying through a link below is a simple way to help keep it running. No pressure. The count is yours either way.
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For your room
Air purifier
Levoit · Smart room air purifier
A place to start for indoor air. Check the room-size rating and replacement-filter fit before buying.
Levoit · Smart room air purifier. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
For allergy days
Allergy tablets
Amazon Basic Care · Cetirizine 10 mg
Read and follow the Drug Facts label. May cause drowsiness; ask a pharmacist if you’re unsure what’s right for you.
Amazon Basic Care · Cetirizine 10 mg. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
For the sniffles
Soft tissues
Kleenex · Lotion facial tissues
A soft landing for a runny nose. Keep a box by the bed, on your desk, or wherever the sneezes find you.
Kleenex · Lotion facial tissues. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
For time outside
N95 masks
3M · Aura 9205+ respirators
For your outdoor kit. Follow 3M’s fitting instructions and check the seal each time you put one on.
3M · Aura 9205+ respirators. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
For your rinse routine
Nasal-rinse kit
NeilMed · Sinus Rinse squeeze-bottle kit
Use only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water. Follow the kit’s use and cleaning directions.
NeilMed · Sinus Rinse squeeze-bottle kit. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
For the next filter change
Fresh air filters
Filtrete · MPR 1000, 16 × 25 × 1
A spare for your home’s HVAC system. Match the dimensions and filtration rating your system supports.
Filtrete · MPR 1000, 16 × 25 × 1. View on Amazon · paid link, opens in a new tab
Swipe or use the arrows to see all six picks. Illustrations depict each category; actual products and packaging differ.
Cedar season in Austin
When is cedar season in Austin?
- NovFirst pollen
- DecBuilds fast
- JanPeak
- FebTapers
- MarLast grains
Now: Oct · off-season
Cedar season in Austin runs from about December through February, with the worst of it in late December and January. Early pollen can show up in November, and the last grains drift through in March.
The culprit is mountain cedar, the Ashe juniper that covers the Hill Country west of town. Its pollen causes cedar fever: itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and a worn-out, flu-like feeling, usually without an actual fever.
It's outside peak season right now, so counts are usually low. Cedar is tracked year-round, so the reading above stays current either way. Read the full guide to cedar fever in Austin.
Reading the count
What is a high cedar pollen count?
Cedar pollen is measured in grains per cubic meter of air (grains/m³). Anything from 90 up is high, and Austin regularly tops 1,500, very high, on peak days in January.
- No cedarNone · 0No cedar detected. Other pollens may still be around.
- Faint hazeLow · 1–14Only the most sensitive people notice.
- HazeModerate · 15–89Allergy sufferers start to feel it. Take medication before going out.
- Thick smokeHigh · 90–1,499Cedar fever territory. Limit time outside and keep windows shut.
- Smoke-outVery High · 1,500+Heavy release, often after a cold front. Stay in and run a HEPA filter.
Common questions
Austin cedar pollen, answered
What is the cedar pollen count in Austin today?
As of Tuesday, October 27, Austin's cedar pollen count is moderate at 16 grains per cubic meter. The reading at the top of this page updates automatically, so it always shows the latest count.
Is cedar pollen bad in Austin right now?
Not really. Cedar is moderate today and it's outside the December to February peak, so most people with cedar fever won't notice much.
How often is the Austin cedar count updated?
Every 30 minutes from November through March, when cedar is active, and once a day the rest of the year. The history chart shows the highest reading from each day.
Why does cedar pollen spike after a cold front?
Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) releases pollen on cold, dry, windy days. North winds behind a front carry huge clouds of it from the Hill Country straight into Austin, which is why counts can go from moderate to very high in a single day.
Can I get an alert when cedar is high in Austin?
Yes. Turn on alerts in the section above this guide and choose Moderate, High, or Very High. You'll get at most one notification a day, between 7 AM and 9 PM, only when cedar reaches the level you picked.