Is it allergy season in Alabama?

Alabama's position in the Deep South gives it one of the country's longest allergy seasons — February through October in most years. Birmingham's AAFA top-10 ranking reflects the city's location in a valley that traps pollen, combined with the state's dense hardwood forests and warm growing season. Mobile and the Gulf Coast see an even earlier spring onset, while Huntsville in the Tennessee Valley experiences a slightly delayed but intense season influenced by neighboring Tennessee's patterns.

Alabama's north-south extent covers multiple ecological zones. The Gulf Coast near Mobile has the earliest spring onset and a near-subtropical allergy profile; the Tennessee Valley in the north experiences timing that mirrors middle Tennessee; and the central Black Belt region between them produces heavy agricultural grass pollen.

Birmingham Metro

Valley trapping drives top-10 allergy burden

Birmingham sits in the Jones Valley, surrounded by Appalachian ridges that trap pollen on still days. The combination of valley geography, urban heat, and dense oak and hickory forests gives the city its perennial AAFA top-10 ranking. Spring tree season is particularly severe in April.

Oak · Feb–MayGrass · May–AugRagweed · Aug–Oct

Huntsville / Tennessee Valley

Appalachian foothills and a compressed season

Huntsville's higher elevation and Tennessee Valley position delay spring pollen by 1–2 weeks compared to Birmingham. Oak and maple are still the dominant spring allergens, but the season is somewhat compressed. Ragweed in the Tennessee Valley can be intense, influenced by adjacent Tennessee patterns.

Trees delayed · Mar–MayGrass · May–AugRagweed · Aug–Sep

Mobile / Gulf Coast

Near-subtropical onset — earliest in the state

Mobile's Gulf Coast location gives it Alabama's earliest spring — oak can begin in late January in warm years. The port city's humidity also elevates mold spore counts. Bermuda grass season extends well into September. Mobile County sees some pollen in every month.

Oak · Jan–AprBermuda grass · Apr–SepMold year-round

Central Alabama / Black Belt

Agricultural flatlands and grass pollen

The Black Belt's dark prairie soils support heavy agriculture, contributing to substantial grass pollen from May through August. Montgomery and Tuscaloosa sit in this zone. Tree pollen mirrors Birmingham timing, arriving in February for maple and March for oak.

Oak · Feb–MayGrass · May–Aug (agricultural)Ragweed · Aug–Oct

Each row shows a full year of pollen for one region — trees in blue, grasses in green, weeds in amber. Look for where all three rows go quiet at the same time — that's your window.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (also called pollen-food allergy syndrome) causes tingling or mild itching in the mouth when you eat certain raw foods during the relevant pollen season. The proteins in the food are similar enough to the pollen protein that your immune system cross-reacts. Cooking usually deactivates the offending protein, so the same food cooked may cause no reaction.

Oak & Hickory pollen

Stone fruits & apples

Apples, peaches, cherries, plums, pears, almonds, hazelnuts, carrots, celery

Peak risk February–May in Alabama — Birmingham's valley position concentrates tree pollen heavily. The state's dense hardwood forests make oak one of the most potent spring allergens in the Southeast.

Bermuda grass pollen

Tomatoes, potatoes & melons

Tomatoes, potatoes, kiwi, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges (in some cases)

Peak risk May–August. Alabama's long warm season extends Bermuda grass pollen well past what's seen in northern states. The Black Belt agricultural region produces particularly high counts.

Ragweed

Melons & bananas

Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, banana, zucchini, cucumber, sunflower seeds

Peak risk August–October. Birmingham is among the Southeast's most ragweed-affected cities. Ragweed thrives in the disturbed soils along Alabama's river corridors and roadsides.

Not medical advice. If you suspect OAS, speak with an allergist — it can sometimes progress, and symptoms that extend beyond the mouth should be evaluated.