Achoo! 10 Cities Where Seasonal Allergies Rage

What do these cities have in common?

• Wichita, Kansas
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Richmond, Virginia
• Greenville, South Carolina
• Greensboro, North Carolina

According to a new study from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, these are the 10 cities that present the greatest challenges to people who suffer from seasonal pollen allergies. The foundation looked at data from 100 cities and designated these as the top itch-and-sneeze spots.

The study looks at factors such as tree, grass, and weed pollen scores throughout the year, over-the-counter allergy medicine use and access to board-certified allergists/immunologists.

WHAT’S POLLINATING NOW? 

According to the report, tree pollen appears early in the year.  “Trees produce the most pollen from February through April. And in some regions, such as the South, trees may produce pollen as early as December or January.¹

Grass pollen causes most late spring and summer pollen allergy symptoms from April through early June,²  the report continues.

Weed pollen–especially ragweed pollen–can trigger symptoms starting in August and peaking in mid-September. Ragweed season may last 6 to 10 weeks until the first frost.³ Some parts of the U.S. now have pollen year-round.

BREATHE EASY

The 10 cities at the bottom of the list–indicating where allergy conditions are better than average follow:

• Denver, Colorado
• Ogden, Utah
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Provo, Utah
• Boise, Idaho
• Cleveland, Ohio
• San Diego, California
• Akron, Ohio
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Boston, Massachusetts

Download the report here.

Related: Is it dry eye or is it allergy?

REFERENCES

1. Lo, F., Bitz, C.M., Battisti, D.S., & Hess, J.J. (2019). Pollen calendars and maps of allergenic pollen in North America. Aerobiologia, 35(4), 613–633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-019-09601-2
2. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2023). Mowing Down Your Grass Allergies. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/mowing-down-your-grass-allergies
3. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Ragweed plants packed with pollen. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/ragweed

Feature image photo credit: Getty Images