Wind and pollen
North wind, south wind: Lincoln's wind normals and the pollen in your bedroom
- 11.8 mph Lincoln Airport's average April wind, NOAA 1991 to 2020
- 8.1% Calm hours in April
- 14.6% Calm hours in December
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 hourly normals for Lincoln Airport show a prevailing north wind from December through April and a south wind from May through November. April is the windiest month at 11.8 mph on average, calm only 8.1 percent of hours. LLCHD notes that the smallest airborne pollen grains can travel many miles on the wind, and UNL's health center suggests considering a dust mask outdoors on windy days.
How does Lincoln's wind change through the year?
Our monthly averages of NOAA's 1991 to 2020 hourly normals for Lincoln Airport:
| Month | Average wind | Prevailing from |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9.2 mph | North |
| February | 9.8 mph | North |
| March | 10.9 mph | North |
| April | 11.8 mph | North |
| May | 10.5 mph | South |
| June | 9.8 mph | South |
| July | 8.7 mph | South |
| August | 8.3 mph | South |
| September | 9.2 mph | South |
| October | 9.5 mph | South |
| November | 9.5 mph | South |
| December | 8.9 mph | North |
At Lincoln Airport the switch from a north to a south wind lands in May, and August is the calmest month at 8.3 mph.
What is the difference between airborne and sticky pollen?
LLCHD's air quality page separates two kinds: sticky, larger grains that ride a carrier such as animal fur, hair, feathers, insects or clothing and seldom stay airborne long, and tiny airborne grains, the smallest of which LLCHD says can travel on the wind for many miles. Bolick's 2001 State Museum note added that Nebraska's strong winds can strip even sticky grains from plants.
What does this mean for the bedroom?
In March and April, Lincoln Airport's windiest months, the airborne kind reaches the window screen; the sticky kind reaches the bed on you, the dog and your clothes, and LLCHD's home list separately says to keep pets out of sleeping areas. Sleep Sanitation covers how often allergy households vacuum a mattress.
What steps help a Lincoln bedroom?
- 1Pair the wind with NWU's count NWU's category tells you what pollen is out; Lincoln Airport's 11.8 mph April average tells you how much of it is moving.
- 2Fix the screens before March Lincoln Airport averages 10.9 mph in March and 11.8 mph in April, and Nebraska Extension's G2069 says pollen comes in through doors, windows and other openings.
- 3Close up on NWU's high days G2069 says to keep doors and windows closed with the air conditioning on in peak seasons; NWU's daily category tells you when Lincoln is in one.
- 4Leave outdoor clothes outside the bedroom LLCHD notes that sticky pollen rides on clothing, hair and animal fur rather than the wind.
What do Lincoln households ask?
Which way does Lincoln's wind blow in spring?
In NOAA's 1991 to 2020 hourly normals for Lincoln Airport, the prevailing direction is north from December through April and south from May through November, and April's 11.8 mph average is the highest of any month.
Does a north wind mean less pollen in Lincoln?
We can't say. NOAA's normals describe wind, not pollen, and NWU's count doesn't report direction. Watch NWU's daily category, and keep the bedroom closed when it's high.
Should I wear a mask outside on windy days?
UNL's University Health Center suggests considering a dust mask outdoors, especially on windy days, during allergy season. This page is general information, not medical advice, so ask your doctor whether it fits you.
Source notes
- NOAA NCEI: U.S. Hourly Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, Lincoln Airport (USW00014939), checked October 3, 2026
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department: Air Quality (allergens and other air contaminants), checked October 3, 2026
- Bolick, Margaret R. (2001). Something to Sneeze At: Nebraska's Airborne Pollen. Museum Notes 110, checked October 3, 2026
- Nebraska Extension G2069 (2011), checked October 3, 2026
- UNL University Health Center: Seasonal Allergies, checked October 3, 2026
Changelog
- October 3, 2026: First published with our monthly averages of Lincoln Airport's hourly wind normals.
- October 3, 2026: Revised: shorter description, fewer restated G2069 lines, wind figures tied to the steps.
Published October 3, 2026, updated October 4, 2026. Written by Lincoln Mattress Cleaning, operated by Sleep Sanitation. General information, not medical advice.
Prices and what a Lincoln visit includes
See the allergy season hub or call (402) 512-5658, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.