“Rainy, cloudy, overcast, snowy, cold — all trigger my migraine big time,” said one MyMigraineTeam member. “When I wake up with a migraine headache, I know some crazy pressure system is moving in,” shared another. “I can feel a storm coming before it’s even known by the weatherperson,” said a third member.

If your migraine attacks seem to be triggered by the weather, you’re not alone. Many people with migraine have said their symptoms get better or worse based on the forecast.

Awareness about the connection between migraine and weather is growing, and so is the number of migraine weather forecasting apps and websites. These tools claim to help people with migraine predict how factors like air pressure, temperature, sunlight, and humidity will affect migraine frequency.

Before you reschedule your outdoor plans, learn what science does and doesn’t know about migraine and weather. Tuning in to how the weather affects you may be a better approach to controlling migraine.

How Does the Weather Impact Migraine Headaches?

About one-third of people with migraine (and half of people with severe migraine) believe weather plays a role in their attacks. Unfortunately, researchers haven’t consistently found a clear link between migraine symptoms and weather changes.

Some studies show a connection, and others don’t. According to some researchers, the weather may affect migraine attacks by about 20 percent. Chances are that even if you’re sensitive to weather changes, the forecast isn’t the only factor influencing your migraine symptoms.

Migraine is different for everyone. But potential triggers for some people include weather-related factors like:

• Bright sunlight or sun glare
• Changes in atmospheric pressure
• Dry air
• Extreme heat or cold
• High humidity
• Sudden temperature changes
• Thunderstorms

While science is still working out the whole story, brain chemicals like serotonin may be affected by weather changes. A chemical imbalance in the brain could trigger migraine attacks.

It’s also possible that weather changes affect other habits that influence migraine symptoms. For example, if you drink wine on the first warm, sunny day of the season or you don’t sleep well because of a storm, other triggers may be coming into play alongside weather changes.

Figuring Out if Weather Is a Trigger for You

Once you’ve been diagnosed with migraine, figuring out your triggers can be a positive next step. Avoiding weather triggers may not be a cure-all for your migraine attacks. But it’s a proactive way to prevent or lessen the impact of migraine on your quality of life.

Keep a Headache Diary

The American Migraine Foundation suggests keeping a migraine diary to learn more about your body and migraine. This headache journal can offer valuable insights for you and your healthcare provider.

Jot down information like:

• The day and time your migraine attack started
• Severity of your symptoms
• Your lifestyle habits, like sleep, stress, diet, and exercise
• Medications and other treatments you’re using
• Environmental changes, including the weather
• Anything that seemed to help or worsen the problem

You can write down your notes on paper, track them using a smartphone app, or create your own tracking spreadsheet. Choose a method that you can stay consistent with, and set reminders so you don’t forget to input the information regularly. Tracking your migraine attacks and your headache-free days can help you find patterns. It can provide more information on what helps or hurts your condition.

Rule Out Allergies or Sinus Headaches

A migraine attack isn’t just a bad headache. Migraine is a health condition that affects how the brain, nerves, and blood vessels work. While headaches are one symptom, they’re not the only challenge that people with migraine experience. Migraine symptoms can include poor appetite, blurry vision, vomiting, light sensitivity, and many other symptoms.

Unfortunately, migraine (especially those triggered by weather changes) may be misdiagnosed as allergy symptoms or sinus problems and vice versa. So, before assuming you have migraine attacks based on the weather forecast, it’s important to rule out other weather-related issues.

If weather changes seem to worsen your symptoms, ask your doctor if allergies could also be a trigger. Environmental allergies could be adding to the problem, sending you down a spiral that leads to more migraine episodes.

Ways To Plan for Weather Changes

You can’t change the weather, but you can prepare for it. Members of MyMigraineTeam have shared preventive measures that work for them.

“WeatherX pressure-filtering earplugs and the app allow me to look ahead at barometric pressure a day or week at a time. If I can anticipate a migraine day, I can hold off booking appointments, drink more water, and get my ice packs and meds ready,” one member reported.

If you have severe migraine, your doctor may suggest using preventive medications to help ward off attacks. However, some of these treatments take several months to start working. Depending on the specific drug, your doctor may suggest staying on treatment long term.

If you notice a pattern of weather-triggered migraine attacks, talk to your doctor. They may recommend adjusting your treatment plan, but it’s important not to change your medication dosage without medical guidance.

Self-Care Tips for Migraine Prevention

Planning ahead means taking extra time to care for yourself and reduce your migraine triggers as best you can. Focus on what you can control by eating healthy, getting physical activity, drinking plenty of water, and going to bed on time.

Stress is an important factor in migraine management and overall well-being. If you know that you’re weather-sensitive, seasonal changes may make you feel anxious. Deep breathing, meditation, and other relaxation techniques can help.

Predicting migraine attacks can be almost as tough as predicting the weather. Even the meteorologists don’t always get it right. Keep your medications up to date, and let your doctor know if weather conditions seem to bring on a migraine attack. They might suggest starting your migraine treatment early if you notice warning signs, depending on your history.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMigraineTeam is the social network for people with migraine and their loved ones. Here, more than 85,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with chronic migraine.

Do you have weather-related migraine symptoms? Share your experience in the comments below. You can also start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.

Are your headaches a symptom of migraine? Get a quick assessment.