Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Under pressure: Does the weather give you a headache?

08:00
3 May 2023

Under pressure
Does the weather give you a headache?

headache

Is the weather giving you a headache? If so, you aren't alone.

Forecasting the weather can cause all kinds of headaches, but how about the weather itself? If you suffer from what seems like a random onset of headaches, it could be down to a change in the weather.

According to the NHS, "Pressure changes that cause weather changes are thought to trigger chemical and electrical changes in the brain. This irritates nerves, leading to a headache."

This is because the air around you has a weight. In a high pressure system, air is more dense and sinks. As a result, higher pressure means a greater weight exerted down onto the surface of the Earth.

Headaches can be brought on by a change in the pressure, not just high pressure. When the pressure changes, it creates a difference between the outside air, and your sinuses and ears, which can result in pain. This is also what happens when you are inside a plane.

It's not just barometric pressure changes that can cause headaches, but also a change in winds for example, which can stir up allergens in the air and aggravate your sinuses. Seasonal changes too, due to pollen, may also trigger this.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Forest fires spread to south-east Europe. Heat and strong winds. . . Thursday, 30 July 2026
Split image showing an active wildfire with flames and thick smoke on the left, and a wind forecast map of Greece on the right with gusts of 25–35 mph around the Aegean Sea, alongside a wildfire warning symbol highlighting elevated fire danger.
Thursday, 30 July 2026

Heat and strong winds

Forest fires spread to south-east Europe
Half of England now in drought. Joining North Wales. . . Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Dry section of the River Thames beneath a small stone bridge, with the riverbed exposed and cracked after prolonged, dry weather, while a person walks along the roadside above.
Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Joining North Wales

Half of England now in drought
Your moment, your location, your weather. Capture the scene with us. . . Saturday, 1 August 2026
Promotional graphic for the Weather & Radar app showing a smartphone recording a live weather video in Coventry, England, with a temperature of 27°C, zoom controls, a weather map overlay, and the headline “Weather live – capture your moment.”
Saturday, 1 August 2026

Capture the scene with us

Your moment, your location, your weather
All weather news
This might also interest you
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday, 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday, 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList