Today's barometric pressure in Reno, 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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Reno's 4,500-foot elevation in the Sierra Nevada rain shadow means lower baseline pressure and dramatic temperature swings. Pacific storms that cross the mountains lose moisture but create significant pressure fluctuations in the Truckee Meadows.
Worst season for migraines: February and March, plus November and December. Pacific storms that crest the Sierra Nevada reach Reno with reduced moisture but significant pressure impacts. Chinook-type downslope winds off the Sierra can create rapid pressure and temperature oscillations, and winter storms at Reno's 4,500-foot elevation bring sharp frontal passages.
Common triggers in Reno: Sierra Nevada downslope wind events, rapid elevation-related pressure changes during mountain travel, extreme aridity causing chronic dehydration. Reno sits at 4,500 feet in the Truckee Meadows, a high desert basin immediately east of the Sierra Nevada crest. The city's proximity to 10,000-foot peaks means dramatic weather transitions happen quickly, and residents who ski at Lake Tahoe experience 2,000+ feet of additional elevation change. The Washoe Zephyr, a thermal wind that develops on spring and summer afternoons, creates daily pressure oscillations as heated desert air rises and draws cooler Sierra air through the Truckee River canyon.
Typical pressure: Reno averages 864 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 850 hPa. Swings of 4-9 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
2026 index: Reno ranks #58 of 100 in our 2026 U.S. Migraine Risk Index, where #1 is the most challenging city for weather-driven migraine.
Can Reno weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Reno experiences 4-9 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include Sierra Nevada downslope wind events, rapid elevation-related pressure changes during mountain travel, extreme aridity causing chronic dehydration.
What time of year are migraines worst in Reno?
In Reno the most barometrically volatile stretch of the year falls in February and March, plus November and December. 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 Reno?
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 Reno 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 Reno. The MigrAid app learns yours. It saves the barometric pressure, humidity and temperature with every migraine you log, shows whether Reno's swings really line up with your attacks, and alerts you when conditions match your own trigger history.