You’d think a Chicago winter would be the one time your sinuses finally catch a break. The lake is freezing, the wind is biting, and there isn't a leaf in sight. Yet, here you are, mid-January, clutching a box of tissues like your life depends on it.
Honestly, it feels like a personal betrayal.
The chicago pollen count today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, is officially sitting at absent to low for most traditional outdoor triggers like ragweed or grass. But "low" doesn't mean "zero symptoms." While the trees are dormant, the air quality and specific indoor shifts are creating a perfect storm for anyone with sensitive respiratory systems.
What's actually in the air right now?
If you check the data from the Loyola Medicine Allergy Count—usually our go-to for daily microscope-verified counts—you'll notice they actually stop their daily outdoor reporting during the deepest winter months. They usually pick back up in March. However, independent sensors and local health data for January 17 show that mold spores are the real culprit currently floating around the Windy City.
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We had a bit of snow early this morning, and the temperature is hovering in the mid-to-high teens. That dampness, combined with the way Chicago’s older buildings trap moisture, keeps mold active. Unlike pollen, which needs a lifecycle of blooming and buzzing, mold just needs a dark, damp corner and a little bit of warmth from your radiator.
The "Cedar Fever" Myth and Chicago Reality
Sometimes you'll hear people talk about "Cedar Fever" this time of year. That's a huge deal down in Texas or Oklahoma where Mountain Cedar pollinates in January and creates literal clouds of yellow dust.
We don't really have that here.
What we do have is Juniper and Cypress varieties that can occasionally puff out small amounts of pollen if we get a weirdly warm "January Thaw." Today isn't one of those days. It's cold. It's "I can't feel my face" cold. So, if you're sneezing today, don't blame the trees. Blame your HVAC system.
Why you feel like there's a pollen explosion (when there isn't)
Indoor allergens spike the second we seal our windows for the season.
- Dust Mites: They love the 68-degree (20°C) environment you’ve created in your living room.
- Pet Dander: Your dog is spending 23 hours a day inside now. That dander is just recirculating.
- Dry Air vs. Congestion: The humidity is sitting around 78% outside, but inside your apartment? It's probably bone-dry. This dries out your nasal passages, making them crack and feel irritated, which mimics the exact sensation of a hay fever attack.
Dr. Rachna Shah, a leading allergist at Loyola, often points out that winter "allergies" are frequently just a reaction to the stagnant air in our homes. When the chicago pollen count today is low, your body is likely reacting to the "urban soup" of dust and microscopic mold that lives in the carpet.
The Weather Factor: January 17, 2026
The wind is kicking up from the West-Southwest at about 17 mph today. Usually, wind is the enemy because it carries pollen for miles. Today, however, that wind is mostly just moving around particulate matter (PM2.5).
If you’ve been feeling a scratchy throat today, it might be the air quality rather than a biological allergen. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the "Good" range, but for those with asthma, even "Good" levels of fine particles combined with the frigid 15°F (-9°C) air can trigger a sneezing fit or a cough that feels just like a late-April pollen reaction.
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Stop the Sneezing: Your Cold-Weather Game Plan
Don't wait for the spring thaw to start managing this. If you're miserable today, waiting until the maple trees bloom in March is a losing strategy.
First, swap your furnace filter. If you haven't done it since Thanksgiving, it’s probably caked in the very stuff making you sneeze. Look for a filter with a MERV 11 or 13 rating—anything lower is basically just stopping pebbles, not allergens.
Second, watch your indoor humidity. You want to stay between 30% and 50%. Any higher and you're inviting the mold to throw a party in your drywall. Any lower and your nose will feel like sandpaper.
Finally, if you’re heading out to the Lakefront or Millennium Park today, wear a scarf over your nose. It’s not just for the cold; it acts as a primitive filter for the soot and dust that gets kicked up on windy January days.
Clean your bedding in hot water (at least 130°F or 54°C) to kill off the dust mite populations that have likely peaked since the heat turned on in October. It sounds like a chore, but it's more effective than any over-the-counter pill when the outdoor pollen counts are this low.
Check your window sills for "sweating" or condensation. This is the #1 source of winter mold in Chicago apartments. Wipe it down with a bit of white vinegar to kill spores before they become airborne and ruin your afternoon.