Today's barometric pressure in Rapid City, a 48-hour pressure chart, and a migraine risk score based on pressure drops, humidity, and temperature changes.
Rapid City sits at the edge of the Black Hills where Chinook winds can raise temperatures 40 degrees in minutes. These sudden warm-air intrusions carry equally dramatic pressure changes, making the city one of the most barometrically volatile in the country.
Worst season for migraines: March through May and October through December. Rapid City sits at the eastern edge of the Black Hills where Chinook winds descend from the mountains, capable of raising temperatures 60+ degrees in a single day. These extreme temperature swings are accompanied by correspondingly dramatic pressure changes that rank among the most intense in the country.
Common triggers in Rapid City: Black Hills Chinook wind events with extreme temperature and pressure swings, spring upslope snowstorm development, rapid cycling between Arctic and Chinook air masses. Rapid City sits at 3,200 feet on the eastern slope of the Black Hills, where the Great Plains meet a 7,200-foot mountain island. This geographic position creates some of the most extreme temperature changes on earth. The January 1943 event saw the temperature swing from minus 4 to 45 degrees in two minutes. While that was exceptional, Chinook-driven temperature swings of 30-50 degrees in a few hours remain common, each carrying significant pressure changes.
Typical pressure: Rapid City averages 902 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 886 hPa. Swings of 12-24 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
Can Rapid City weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Rapid City experiences 12-24 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include Black Hills Chinook wind events with extreme temperature and pressure swings, spring upslope snowstorm development, rapid cycling between Arctic and Chinook air masses.
What time of year are migraines worst in Rapid City?
In Rapid City the most barometrically volatile stretch of the year falls in March through May and October through December. That is when weather is most likely to play a part, if weather is a trigger for you at all.
How do I track migraine triggers in Rapid City?
Use MigrAid to log your attacks with one tap. The app automatically records barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity at the time of each migraine, then finds patterns between your attacks and Rapid City's weather conditions over time.
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Is it really the weather?
Weather gets blamed for a lot of migraines, but it's hard to know if it's really behind yours. The MigrAid app saves the barometric pressure with every migraine you log, so after a few weeks you can see whether Rapid City's swings actually line up with your attacks, and get a heads-up on days that match your pattern.