Today's barometric pressure in Oakland, a 48-hour pressure chart, and a risk score for weather-triggered migraine and headache, based on pressure drops, humidity, and temperature changes.
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Oakland's position opposite the Golden Gate puts it in the path of marine air funneling through the only sea-level gap in the coastal range. Pressure holds near 1014 hPa most of the year, then drops to about 1004 when atmospheric rivers land.
Worst season for migraines: January through March. Atmospheric river events concentrate in the first three months of the year, delivering the steepest declines the East Bay sees. Summer brings the opposite problem: months of near-total pressure flatness broken only by fog cycles.
Common triggers in Oakland: atmospheric river landfalls, afternoon marine push through the Golden Gate, autumn Diablo wind reversals. Marine air funnels inland every afternoon through the gap in the hills at the Golden Gate, producing a daily pressure and temperature oscillation that inland cities do not experience. Oakland sits at the receiving end of that flow, and the hills above the city can differ from the flats by several degrees and a measurable fraction of a millibar.
Typical pressure: Oakland averages 1014 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 1004 hPa. Swings of 4-8 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
2026 index: Oakland is not one of the 100 metros ranked in our 2026 U.S. Migraine Risk Index, which shows how they compare.
Can Oakland weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Oakland experiences 4-8 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include atmospheric river landfalls, afternoon marine push through the Golden Gate, autumn Diablo wind reversals.
What time of year are migraines worst in Oakland?
In Oakland the most barometrically volatile stretch of the year falls in January through March. That is when weather is most likely to play a part, if weather is a trigger for you at all. See when migraine weather season starts across the U.S.
Is there a barometric pressure headache forecast for Oakland?
This page works as one. Many people call a headache that arrives with a weather change a barometric pressure headache, and this forecast tracks the pressure drops, humidity and temperature swings behind that idea. The score covers the next 24 hours in Oakland and the chart shows the next 48. It is built on migraine research, so treat it as a rough guide for other headaches. A sudden, severe headache needs urgent medical care, whatever the weather.
Your own forecast
This page shows the weather risk for everyone in Oakland. The MigrAid app learns yours. It saves the barometric pressure, humidity and temperature with every migraine you log, shows whether Oakland's swings really line up with your attacks, and alerts you when conditions match your own trigger history.