Today's barometric pressure in Salt Lake City, a 48-hour pressure chart, and a migraine risk score based on pressure drops, humidity, and temperature changes.
Salt Lake City's 4,226-foot elevation and mountain-valley geography create unique pressure patterns. The Great Salt Lake generates its own lake-effect snow, and inversions trap pollution in the valley during winter, adding air quality triggers to pressure changes.
Worst season for migraines: March through May and October through December. Salt Lake City's Wasatch Front position creates intense orographic storms that drop pressure rapidly as Pacific systems collide with the 11,000-foot mountains directly east of downtown. Winter inversions trap cold, polluted air in the valley for weeks at a time.
Common triggers in Salt Lake City: Wasatch Mountain orographic storm development, winter temperature inversions trapping PM2.5 pollution, lake-effect snow squalls from the Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City sits at 4,300 feet in a narrow valley between the Wasatch Range to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. The Great Salt Lake to the northwest generates lake-effect snow bands, and the valley geography creates some of the worst winter inversions in the US, trapping polluted air below mountain level for days or weeks. Residents who ski in the nearby mountains experience 5,000+ feet of elevation change and corresponding pressure shifts in under an hour.
Typical pressure: Salt Lake City averages 871 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 858 hPa. Swings of 10-16 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
Can Salt Lake City weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Salt Lake City experiences 10-16 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include Wasatch Mountain orographic storm development, winter temperature inversions trapping PM2.5 pollution, lake-effect snow squalls from the Great Salt Lake.
What time of year are migraines worst in Salt Lake City?
In Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City's weather conditions over time.
Loading live forecast for Salt Lake City...
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 Salt Lake City's swings actually line up with your attacks, and get a heads-up on days that match your pattern.