Today's barometric pressure in Spokane, a 48-hour pressure chart, and a migraine risk score based on pressure drops, humidity, and temperature changes.
Spokane's inland Northwest location brings cold, dry winters and hot summers with dramatic seasonal pressure shifts. Pacific systems lose moisture crossing the Cascades but maintain their pressure influence, creating dry frontal passages that migraine sufferers feel.
Worst season for migraines: October through March. Pacific storms that cross the Cascades lose much of their moisture but retain their pressure signatures, delivering rapid frontal passages to the Spokane area. Winter Arctic outbreaks from British Columbia can drop temperatures 40+ degrees while dramatically shifting barometric readings.
Common triggers in Spokane: post-Cascade Pacific frontal passages, Arctic outbreaks from British Columbia, Palouse wind events stirring agricultural dust. Spokane sits at 1,920 feet on the Spokane River in the channeled scablands of eastern Washington. The rain shadow of the Cascades means significantly less precipitation than western Washington, but weather fronts still bring sharp pressure changes even when precipitation is light. The surrounding Palouse agricultural region generates dust during wind events, and winter inversions in the Spokane Valley can trap wood smoke and create poor air quality.
Typical pressure: Spokane averages 960 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 946 hPa. Swings of 10-18 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
Can Spokane weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Spokane experiences 10-18 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include post-Cascade Pacific frontal passages, Arctic outbreaks from British Columbia, Palouse wind events stirring agricultural dust.
What time of year are migraines worst in Spokane?
In Spokane the most barometrically volatile stretch of the year falls in October through March. 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 Spokane?
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 Spokane'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 Spokane's swings actually line up with your attacks, and get a heads-up on days that match your pattern.