If you woke up this morning in Beaverton with a scratchy throat and eyes that feel like they’ve been rubbed with sandpaper, you aren't alone. You might think it's just a lingering winter cold. Honestly, it’s probably the trees. Even though we’re still technically in the middle of January 2026, the Beaverton Oregon pollen count is already showing signs of life, and for many locals, the "misery season" has officially kicked off.
The Willamette Valley is famous for many things—great wine, lush hiking trails, and being the literal grass seed capital of the world. That last one is a nightmare for your sinuses.
Right now, the data is telling a very specific story. While most of the country is still buried under snow, Beaverton is dealing with an early surge of tree pollen, specifically from Hazelnut and Alder. It feels a bit unfair, doesn't it? You’re barely done with the holidays and suddenly you’re reaching for the Flonase.
The Current State of Pollen in Beaverton
As of mid-January 2026, manual counts from regional sampling stations—like the ones maintained by Oregon Allergy Associates—are already detecting moderate levels of tree pollen. We’re talking about counts hovering around 78 grains per cubic meter. In the world of allergy reporting, anything over 90 is considered high, so we are knocking right on that door.
Cedar is the big player this week.
If you’ve noticed your car has a fine dusting of yellowish powder after a dry afternoon, that’s not just "road dust." It’s reproductive biological warfare from the local Cupressaceae family.
The weird thing about Beaverton is that our weather acts like a giant bellows. When we get those cold, dry winds blowing through the valley, they scoop up pollen from the surrounding hills and dump it right into the Tualatin Valley basin. Then the rain comes. You’d think rain would help, right? It does, for an hour. But then the moisture causes some pollen grains to "pop" or fragment, which actually makes them easier to inhale deep into your lungs.
Why Beaverton Is an Allergy Hotspot
It isn't just your imagination; the allergies here really are more intense than in many other parts of the U.S. Beaverton sits in a geographical "bowl." To the west, we have the Coast Range, and to the east, the West Hills of Portland.
Pollen gets trapped.
The Tree Phase (January – May)
This is where we are now. It starts with Hazelnut and Alder in late winter. By the time March rolls around, the Birch and Oak trees join the party. If you are allergic to Oak, April is usually your "peak" month of discomfort. These trees produce tiny, lightweight pollen that can travel for miles on a light breeze.
The Grass Phase (May – July)
This is the big one. If the tree season is a light drizzle, grass season is a monsoon. The Willamette Valley produces a massive percentage of the world's cool-season forage and turf grass seed.
Think about that.
Millions of acres of Ryegrass, Fescue, and Orchard grass are all reaching maturity at the same time just south of us. When those fields pollinate in June, the Beaverton Oregon pollen count for grass can skyrocket into the "Very High" range, sometimes exceeding 400 or 500 grains per cubic meter. For context, a "High" rating for grass starts at just 20.
The Weed and Mold Phase (August – November)
Late summer brings Ragweed and Sagebrush. But in Beaverton, our bigger fall issue is often mold. Because we live in such a damp, temperate climate, mold spores (like Alternaria and Cladosporium) peak when the leaves start to fall and rot.
What the Experts Say About 2026 Trends
Dr. Kraig Jacobson and the team at Oregon Allergy Associates have been tracking these numbers for decades. One thing that stands out in 2026 is the shifting timeline. We are seeing "early bloomers" like Hazelnut appearing nearly two weeks earlier than they did a decade ago.
This means the "pollen-free" window in Oregon is shrinking.
There's also the "fragmentation" factor to consider. When we have those light, misty rains—classic Beaverton weather—the humidity can cause pollen grains to swell and burst. This releases tiny sub-particles that are way more allergenic than the whole grain. This is why you might feel worse during a light drizzle even though the news says the "pollen count" is lower. The count measures whole grains, not the invisible fragments.
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Survival Strategies That Actually Work
You’ve tried the pills. You’ve tried the sprays. But managing a high Beaverton Oregon pollen count requires a bit of a tactical approach.
- The "Carpet Ritual": If you’ve been hiking at Cooper Mountain or just walking the dog at Tualatin Hills Nature Park, you are covered in pollen. It’s in your hair, your eyebrows, and your clothes. Strip down in the laundry room and hop in the shower the second you get home. Do not sit on your bed in your "outside clothes."
- HEPA is Your Best Friend: A standard 1-inch furnace filter won't do much for pollen. You need a HEPA-rated air purifier in the bedroom. Since we spend a third of our lives sleeping, keeping the bedroom a "clean zone" gives your immune system a break.
- Window Management: It’s tempting to open the windows on a beautiful 60-degree February day. Don’t do it. Use the "Recirculate" button in your car, too.
- The Saline Rinse: It sounds gross, but using a Neti pot or a saline squeeze bottle to flush your sinuses at night is a game-changer. It literally washes the "pollen sludge" out of your nose before it can cause an inflammatory reaction while you sleep.
When to See a Specialist
Sometimes, over-the-counter stuff just doesn't cut it. If you find that you're getting sinus infections every spring, or if your "allergies" are causing you to wheeze, it's time to talk to a pro.
There are several great clinics in the Beaverton area, including specialists at OHSU and various private practices near the St. Vincent Hospital area. They can do skin-prick testing to tell you exactly which tree or grass is the culprit. Once you know your enemy, you can look at immunotherapy (allergy shots or drops). These don't just mask the symptoms; they actually retrain your immune system to stop overreacting to the environment.
Actionable Next Steps for Beaverton Residents
- Check the Daily Manual Count: Don't rely on "automated" apps that use weather models. Look for manual counts from certified National Allergy Bureau (NAB) stations in the Willamette Valley. These involve an actual human looking at a slide under a microscope.
- Start Your Meds Early: If you know April is your worst month, start your nasal steroid spray (like Flonase or Nasacort) in mid-March. These medications take about a week of consistent use to build up a "protective shield" in your nasal lining. They are much less effective if you wait until you're already miserable.
- Track Your Symptoms: Keep a quick note on your phone about when your eyes are the iciest. Is it after a windy day? Is it only when you go near the park? This data is gold for an allergist.
- Update Your Filters: Change your home’s HVAC filter now, before the spring "pollen bomb" hits in March. Look for a MERV 11 or 13 rating if your system can handle the airflow.
Beaverton is a beautiful place to live, but the price of all that green is a lot of yellow dust. Stay ahead of the count, keep your windows shut, and remember that by July, the worst of it is usually over.