Slideshow · Science
The Worst US Cities for Fall Allergies in 2026: Do You Live in One?
Driven by warming autumn temperatures, delayed first frosts, and surging ragweed pollen counts, the 2026 Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Allergy Capitals report reveals a dramatic West
By Most Viral Today
19 Oct 2026
The Worst US Cities for Fall Allergies in 2026: Do You Live in One? 
15. Colorado Springs, Colorado 
14. Richmond, Virginia 
13. Salt Lake City, Utah - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
12. Minneapolis, Minnesota 
11. San Francisco, California 
10. Greenville, South Carolina 
9. Spokane, Washington - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
8. Ogden, Utah 
7. Raleigh, North Carolina 
6. Wichita, Kansas 
5. Rochester, New York - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
4. Provo, Utah 
3. Tulsa, Oklahoma 
2. San Diego, California 
1. Boise, Idaho - Advertisement🔥 UP NEXT IN THIS SERIES◫ 21 Slides
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Driven by warming autumn temperatures, delayed first frosts, and surging ragweed pollen counts, the 2026 Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Allergy Capitals report reveals a dramatic Western shift among the 15 worst US cities for seasonal allergies.
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©Wikimedia / Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
15. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranked #15 in the 2026 AAFA Allergy Capitals report, Colorado Springs combines high-altitude Chinook winds with prolonged autumn blooms of sagebrush, Russian thistle, and ragweed across the Front Range, keeping antihistamine demand elevated until the first hard freeze.
©Wikimedia / mark byzewski
14. Richmond, Virginia
Sitting in the humid James River valley, Richmond lands at #14 in 2026 thanks to a punishing double punch of dense Virginia ragweed pollen and damp autumn leaf mold that lingers well into November.
©Wikimedia / Morgan Riley
13. Salt Lake City, Utah
Ranked #13 nationwide in 2026, Salt Lake City suffers from steep Wasatch Front topography that traps ragweed, sagebrush, and pigweed pollen inside the valley floor alongside autumn haze and ozone.
©Wikimedia / Iansmh98
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12. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Taking the #12 spot in 2026, Minneapolis has experienced some of the fastest-warming autumn temperatures in North America, delaying the first frost and stretching the Upper Midwest ragweed pollen season weeks longer than historic norms.
©Wikimedia / Michael Hicks
11. San Francisco, California
Ranking #11 in the 2026 AAFA report, San Francisco's frost-free Mediterranean climate and warm autumn Indian summer winds blow heavy concentrations of mugwort, sagebrush, and ragweed pollen across the Bay Area.
©Wikimedia / King of Hearts
10. Greenville, South Carolina
Opening the top 10 in 2026, Greenville's lush Piedmont foothills and warm autumn afternoons fuel intense ragweed and outdoor mold spore counts, compounded by high over-the-counter allergy medication utilization.
©Wikimedia / DXR
9. Spokane, Washington
Ranked #9 in 2026, Spokane sits in the dry Inland Northwest where late-summer and autumn weed pollens combine with seasonal wildfire smoke irritation and limited local access to board-certified allergy specialists.
©Wikimedia / Warren LeMay
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8. Ogden, Utah
One of three Utah metros in the 2026 top 15, Ogden ranks #8 due to fierce canyon breezes that sweep ragweed, chenopods, and sagebrush pollen down the Wasatch Front, paired with a low ratio of immunology specialists per capita.
©Wikimedia / Weberstate
7. Raleigh, North Carolina
Famous for springtime yellow pine and oak pollen clouds, Raleigh claims #7 in the 2026 AAFA rankings as late-summer heat waves drive extreme fall weed pollen scores across North Carolina's Research Triangle.
©Wikimedia / Atlpedia
6. Wichita, Kansas
After holding the #1 spot in 2023 and 2024, Wichita remains a perennial allergy hotspot at #6 in 2026. Surrounded by open prairie and agricultural fields, its gusty autumn winds keep ragweed pollen airborne day and night.
©Wikimedia / WeaponizingArchitecture
5. Rochester, New York
Ranked #5 overall in 2026—and the worst allergy city in the Northeast—Rochester faces a potent combination of high autumn ragweed pollen counts and damp Lake Ontario weather that accelerates outdoor mold growth on fallen leaves.
©Wikimedia / Paul Lowry
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4. Provo, Utah
Landing at #4 in the 2026 AAFA Allergy Capitals report, Provo's bowl-shaped Utah Valley geography beneath Mount Timpanogos concentrates late-season weed pollens while residents face a severe shortage of local board-certified allergists.
©Wikimedia / Ken Lund
3. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ranked #3 nationwide in 2026, Tulsa sits in a humid river valley where giant and common ragweed, marsh elder, and fall-pollinating cedar elm trees produce some of the highest autumn pollen readings in the United States.
©Wikimedia / Nils Huenerfuerst
2. San Diego, California
Jumping to #2 in the 2026 AAFA Allergy Capitals rankings, San Diego's frost-free climate and hot, gusty autumn Santa Ana winds carry clouds of inland weed and grass pollen across coastal neighborhoods from September through November.
©Wikimedia / roger4336
1. Boise, Idaho
Claiming the #1 spot for the first time in the 2026 AAFA Allergy Capitals report, Boise—"The City of Trees"—tops the nation due to a dramatic climate-driven surge in tree and autumn weed pollen combined with low availability of board-certified allergists.
©Wikimedia / Robbymilo
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