Ragweed in Omaha: from UNMC's August 15 rule of thumb to Eppley's median first freeze
UNMC said ragweed arrives in Nebraska around August 15, give or take a day or two. In the last week of September 2026, the Douglas County weed count ran from 54 (high) on September 28 down to 1 on October 1, then 12 on October 2. NOAA's median first 32°F night at Eppley is October 21 and its first 28°F night October 30; a freeze date isn't a pollen forecast.
Count to watch: The weeds line in the NWS Omaha/Valley bulletin, with counts from the Douglas County Health Department.
DCHD's bulletin names the leading weeds each day, such as hemp, nettle, pigweed and ragweed in late September 2026. Open it
Late summer and fall at Eppley Airfield
| Month | Average dew point | Average wind | Freeze normals |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 64°F | 8.2 mph, the calmest month | None |
| September | 55°F | 9.2 mph | None |
| October | 41°F | 9.8 mph | Median first 32°F night October 21; first 28°F night October 30 |
Our averages of NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Eppley Airfield. NOAA’s median growing season there, between the last and first 32°F nights, is 185 days.
What the weed line looked like in late September 2026
The Douglas County count fell across the week: 54 (high) on Monday, September 28, with hemp, nettle and ragweed named; 26 on Tuesday; 18 on Wednesday; 1 on Thursday, October 1; and back to 12 (moderate) on Friday, October 2, with pigweed and ragweed. That rebound is why a single quiet day isn’t the end of the season, and why we’d watch the count rather than Eppley’s freeze date.
Three things to do before the freeze
- Close the windows on days DCHD’s bulletin says high. UNMC’s Andrew Rorie suggested closed house windows when counts are high.
- Shower and change after yard work, following UNMC’s pollen season advice to change clothes and rinse off after time outdoors, so less of the day’s weeds reaches the pillow.
- Don’t trust a calm month. September averages 9.2 mph at Eppley, one of the calmer months, yet the weed count still reached 54 on September 28, 2026.
Booking around the weed count
A fall mattress cleaning doesn’t change DCHD’s weed count, and we don’t claim it helps allergies; if you want the appointment after the weed line has quieted down, book a weekday after Eppley’s October 21 median first freeze and ask us to note it on the inspection form if someone in the house is pollen sensitive. Sleep Sanitation explains how often allergy households tend to vacuum in how often should allergy sufferers vacuum a mattress. Check your care label and warranty terms before booking.
Asked about ragweed season
When did UNMC date the start of ragweed season?
UNMC's 2014 allergy season release put ragweed's arrival in Nebraska around August 15, give or take a day or two. The DCHD weed count in the NWS Omaha/Valley bulletin shows whether it is still in the air on a given day.
Does Eppley's first freeze end ragweed season?
We can't promise that, and NOAA doesn't forecast pollen. What NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals give is a median date for Eppley's first 32°F night, October 21, and its first 28°F night, October 30. Watch DCHD's weed count rather than the calendar.
Is the week after October 21 a good time to book?
The outdoor air is drier by then: Eppley's average dew point falls from 64°F in August to 41°F in October. Book a weekday and keep the windows closed if someone in the house reacts to weeds, since Eppley's median first 28°F night isn't until October 30.
Sources
Changelog
- October 3, 2026: First published with DCHD weed counts through October 2, 2026 and NOAA freeze dates.
Published October 3, 2026. Written by Omaha Mattress Cleaning, operated by Sleep Sanitation. General information, not medical advice.
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