untitled

1999-2000 Mountain Cedar Season

We will be back again in December 2000 with daily mountain cedar forecasts. Please keep up with our web pages throughout the spring, summer, and fall for information on local pollen types.

Individuals allergic to mountain cedar should be cautious about pollen levels during other times of the year. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) releases pollen during February and March in Texas and Oklahoma. This tree is abundant throughout much of the eastern half of North America including parts of Texas and Oklahoma. In the Tulsa area, eastern red cedar is one of our most prolific pollinators. Although not generally considered as allergenic as mountain cedar, there is cross reactivity between the two species. Therefore, if you are in areas with red cedar you may continue to experience allergy symptoms during the early spring. In the fall September through November, red-berry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) pollinates in this region as well. This pollen is also allergenic and also cross reacts with mountain cedar; so fall symptoms are also possible. Often news media will provide information on local pollen counts. Sometimes the inclusion of any cedar pollen is thought (by the media) to be mountain cedar. As a result, misleading information is sometimes broadcast or published. Use the following as a general guideline

September to November Juniperus pinchotii

December and January Juniperus ashei

February and March Juniperus virginiana

Questions: Aerobiology Lab e-mail: pollen@utulsa.edu

Return to Forecasting Home Page

This project was made possible by an NSF-EPSCoR grant which provided funds to enhance the Oklahoma Mesonet.

	September to November	Juniperus pinchotii
	December and January	Juniperus ashei
	February and March	Juniperus virginiana