Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    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
Rising UV levels at the end the week. Mostly to the south. . . Wednesday 17 June 2026
Split graphic showing a UK temperature map with temperatures reaching 30°C near London on the left and a person applying sunscreen in bright sunshine on the right, with a UV warning symbol highlighting elevated ultraviolet levels.
Wednesday 17 June 2026

Mostly to the south

Rising UV levels at the end the week
Heat alerts issued for parts of England. Back to around 30 °C. . . Thursday 18 June 2026
Temperature map of the UK, Ireland, and western Europe on 19.06 showing warm to hot conditions across the UK with temperatures reaching 29 °C near London and a red heat warning symbol highlighting elevated heat risk.
Thursday 18 June 2026

Back to around 30 °C

Heat alerts issued for parts of England
Dry, hot weather raises pollen levels. Hay fever comeback. . . Thursday 18 June 2026
Satellite weather map of the UK and western Europe showing sunny conditions across much of Britain, a rain band approaching Ireland from the Atlantic, and a pollen icon indicating airbourne pollen levels during warm weather.
Thursday 18 June 2026

Hay fever comeback

Dry, hot weather raises pollen levels
All weather news
This might also interest you
Unsettled conditions into the weekend. Breakfast brief. . . Friday 29 August 2025
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
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

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList