Do spring storms bring you to your knees in pain? Are hot, humid days your archenemy? Do you religiously check the forecast, trying to predict your likelihood of calling in sick to work?
When you live with migraine, the weather impacts much more than what to wear or what route to take to work. What is happening in the sky can literally mean the difference between a productive day and a day spent curled up in the dark.
While migraine triggers vary from person to person, certain weather patterns are among the most common triggers. And different people are affected by different seasonal weather patterns.
The winter migraine season, with cold temperatures and high winds, is the worst part of the year for those triggered by barometric pressure change.
Migraine is not the only health condition that barometric pressure can influence.
On the other hand, the summer migraine season is prime pain time for those sensitive to heat, humidity, dehydration, sunshine, or thunderstorms.
And of course, some parts of the world are worse than others. Here’s a snapshot of the best and worst places to be in the United States if you live with migraine:
A study took a look at several environmental factors that can contribute to migraine to calculate the best and worst cities for people living with migraine.
The people around you who don’t have weather-related migraine probably don’t understand why a storm or a heat wave sends you to bed in pain. But those in the Migraine Again community understand all too well. We polled our community about weather-related triggers and received dozens of funny, heartfelt, and relatable comments.
Summer: Heat, Sun, and Humidity Drive Up Attacks
For many people, when the temperature and humidity start to rise, the number of migraine attacks can climb, too. Summer’s big storms, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, or hurricanes, also can trigger migraine attacks in some people, like these folks:
I dread the summer months, which always make my migraines worse; dry frosty autumn days are far more bearable. — David V.
Tornado season is killer time for me and migraines. I am a human barometer. — Toni G.
I love cutting grass, I love being out on the boat fishing. But with the threat of migraines, I have to dress like an old woman with my big floppy hat and dark sunglasses. I don't dare let the sun's glare ruin my day. It is a love-hate relationship with the sun. — Sandra W.
Bright, sunny, warm days ... summer is my literal hell. — Amber F.
Sunny, hot weather and the bright sun trigger my migraines. — Yong H.
Waiting it out is rough. My husband has learned to wait it out with me, bless his heart. It's so isolating though because you can't plan anything. This hurricane season is the worst since Katrina. — Kathy
Sunny, hot weather is my biggest trigger, and guess what? I live in Greece. — Clio P.
Hydrate ... a lot. I do not do anything outside when the temperatures rise above a certain degree or the heat index is too high. I would love to do outdoor activities or go places, but just can't. — Regina C.
Autumn: ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’
Fall brings cooler temps, less humidity, windier days — and more migraine attacks for some.
It’s true: Seasonal changes really can provoke migraine, and the shift from summer to fall is one of the most dramatic. During this time, there are large changes in barometric pressure that can trigger migraine attacks.
“When you have changes in weather, it’s not just temperature,” says Lee Peterlin, DO, founder and medical director of the Pennsylvania Headache Center in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. “It’s the changes in atmospheric pressure, in wind, in clouds, in dust, and precipitation.”
Here's what people in the community say:
Barometric pressure change is my primary migraine trigger. September has been very difficult. I've lost many sunny, beautiful days that were preceded by rain the day before. I also have migraines when the weather changes from sunny to rainy. None of the MANY prevention treatments I've tried has been successful. — Catherine
Overcast and low pressure crucify me. — Sammy D.
Fronts, storms, high winds, clouds. Basically, anything but a calm sunny day triggers my migraines. Living in the Midwest is the worst. I'm considering moving to southern Florida or California, where my migraines are much better. — Cathy N.
My friends don't need to watch the weather — they watch me. — Mary C.
Nor’wester winds in Christchurch, New Zealand. Every time. No avoiding a migraine for several days. — Hayley S.
Spring and fall are most people's favorite time of year, but I struggle to function. — Jennifer K.
'Wake me up when September ends.' — Abby B.
Winter: A Dark Time for Many With Migraine
The shorter days and softer light in winter bring some relief for people with migraine attacks, but the snowstorms, high winds, and lack of vitamin D can trigger headaches in others.
Winter is especially hard on those who deal with migraine and depression at the same time or those with seasonal affective disorder.
Big snowstorms are pretty much a guaranteed migraine. Also, cloudy, rainy, overcast days where the air just feels heavy tend to not be so great either. — Joanna S.
Cold winter weather, the changing pressure from highs to lows or lows to highs … my head and body do not like winter. — Helen L.
Winter is worse than allergy season for me. I get an attack every time barometric pressure changes. — Katie K.
As a chronic migraine warrior in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I am very affected by Chinook winds in the winter. I get a migraine attack prior to the Chinook winds actually blowing. I don't usually have a migraine start during the Chinook itself. — Nancy Y.
People think I'm crazy when I tell them I can sense a change in the barometric pressure due to my headaches. Sometimes my migraines will last for days, depending on the barometric pressure, etc. — Tricia R.
Spring: April Showers Bring … More Migraine Attacks?
Spring brings warmer weather, gentle rain, and flowers. For many people, however, shifting temperatures, changing barometric pressure, and an increase in allergens make spring the most miserable migraine season.
The changing barometer tends to send my body and head to pieces — major temperature changes of 20 degrees or more up to down, or down to up. — Heather W.
Major quick weather changes trigger my attacks. Also high humidity. — Jeannine S.
Too hot is much worse than too cold. The worst for me is spring and autumn with the passing high- and low-pressure systems. — Michael W.
When the weather changes, as it so often does in Houston, Texas, and the barometer changes and drops — it is a trigger indeed, along with the heat and humidity. I rely on my barometer app on my phone to tell me when it does drop and I can look out for a pending attack. — Anne M.
I'm a human barometer. The cold weather doesn't really affect me; it's the hot weather that makes it worse. — Addy
A migraine will stay as long as the leaded skies and low pressure last. No meds will touch it. Have to wait it out, which can be a week or more. Such relief when a dry, blue-sky day comes and the pressure changes. — Kym
Final Thoughts
You cannot, of course, change the weather. But identifying which seasons and weather patterns are more likely to trigger migraine can help you prepare.
Being prepared means trying to avoid other triggers that you have control over. If you’ve identified a season during which you’re especially sensitive, you should pay extra attention to your stress level, hydration, physical activity, and sleep. This would be an ideal time to plant those SEEDS for natural migraine relief: Sleep, Exercise, Eat, Diary, and Stress.
It is easier to prevent an attack than it is to treat one, so doubling down on prevention during your worst migraine season can help you suffer less.