Are Changing Seasons Making Your Migraines Worse? | Weather.com
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Seasonal changes and shifts in weather patterns may be migraine triggers for some sufferers. Here's why.

By

Nicole Bonaccorso

January 27, 2025

A person in a gray sweater holds a blister pack of medication in their right hand, popping two pills into their left hand.

Many migraine sufferers experience worsening symptoms as the seasons change.

(Getty Images)

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S​easonal changes can be difficult for migraine sufferers. Changes in temperature or barometric pressure may be the cause of many seasonal migraine complaints.

"Migraine is a disease that causes the brain to be hypersensitive to both internal and external changes, Dr. Niushen Zhang, clinical associate professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford, told weather.com. "Other things to keep in mind — adjusting to change is challenging for the migraine brain. Triggers are usually partial and additive. We typically counsel our patients to not fixate too much on individual triggers, but rather, to think of the various changes that they have been experiencing as potential, contributing factors to a migraine attack."

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While some people who experience migraines may be triggered by cold, dry weather, others may see an uptick in symptoms during heat and humidity. Different individuals experience different triggers. But as seasons change, the change in barometric pressure can lead to migraines, the American Migraine Foundation reports.

(​MORE: Winter Weather Can Affect Migraine Sufferers)

"Some patients do experience seasonal periodicity with migraine. This is very individual for people," said Zhang. "Often it is the change or transition from season to season that can contribute to an increase in migraine frequency. Along those lines, time change, shorter days, barometric pressure changes and cold weather in winter can be some of the contributing factors to migraine frequency."

W​inter Migraine Triggers

A thermometer is seen in snow with a snowy branch in the background. A caption on the image reads "Cold weather and snow can trigger migraines for some sufferers."

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(Getty Images)

W​inter migraine triggers include cold weather, dry air and winter storms, according to Medical News Today. Turning up the thermostat in your home can make the air inside dry, leading to dehydration and more frequent migraines. And when a storm hits, the barometric pressure drops, which can affect the sinuses and create the perfect conditions for a migraine.

A lightning bolt is seen erupting from cloudy skies into dark trees and mountains. A caption on the image reads "Migraines may become more common during changes in barometric pressure that occur during thunder and snow storms."

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(Getty Images)

A hand adjusts a digital thermostat which reads "74 degrees" on an orange background. A caption on the image reads, "Dry air, both indoors and out, can be a winter migraine trigger."

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(Getty Images)

S​pring Migraine Triggers

S​pring weather is often very changeable, especially in the early spring. March and April are often cold one day and warm the next, and these changes can be tough for the migraine sufferer. Spring is also known for quick transitions between rain and sunshine, a fast shift of barometric pressure.

A rainbow is seen through trees. A caption on the image reads, "Spring can bring frequent shifts between rain and sun, meaning changes in barometric pressure and more frequent migraines."

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(Getty Images)

"Seasonal allergy can be one of many contributing factors to migraine frequency and severity," Zhang explained.

A woman in a light blue shirt blows her nose into a tissue in front of greenery. A caption on the image reads, "Seasonal allergies can be a contributor to migraine frequency and severity."

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(Getty Images)

S​ummer Migraine Triggers

A woman in a hat and sunglasses and tank top cools herself using a handheld fan. A caption on the image reads, "As temperatures rise in the summer, it can be easy to become dehydrated, which can lead to migraines."

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

T​he combination of heat and humidity during the summer months can trigger migraines. It can also be easier to become dehydrated during the hotter months, which can lead to migraines as well, Medical News Today reports. Longer daylight hours can affect sleep, and lack of sleep can be a migraine trigger for some individuals.

F​all Migraine Triggers

"​I see many patients where it is the change in seasons, particularly the beginning of the fall season, where their headaches can get much worse," Robert Fryer, MD, Ph.D., director of the Division of Headache Medicine in the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Health, told weather.com.

Yellow leaves on a branch dangle in the righthand corner of the photo and on the top, before a background of fall trees. A caption on this image reads, "Temperature fluctuations in the fall, especially early in the season, may be a migraine trigger."

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

T​emperature fluctuations could be the culprit, especially at the beginning of the season. As humidity decreases and barometric pressure changes, migraine sufferers often see an uptick in migraine frequency and severity. And as days become shorter, sleep schedule changes can trigger migraine attacks, according to the American Migraine Foundation.