48-hour migraine risk based on barometric pressure, humidity, and temperature changes in Bend.
Bend sits at 1,106 metres in the Cascade rain shadow, where the mountains strip Pacific storms of moisture but not their pressure signature. Pressure averages 891 hPa, and the high desert setting gives the city a climate unlike anywhere west of the range.
Worst season for migraines: January through March. Cool-season systems crossing the Cascades bring the year's main barometric activity, arriving as wind and pressure change more often than as precipitation. Summer is dry and stable enough that weeks can pass with almost no movement.
Common triggers in Bend: rain shadow pressure changes without precipitation, 20-degree daily temperature ranges, wildfire smoke during late summer. Crossing the Cascade crest wrings most of the water out of incoming systems, so Bend receives a fraction of the rainfall that Eugene does at the same latitude. What arrives instead is the pressure change without the weather, which catches people who judge conditions by looking outside. Daily temperature ranges exceeding 20 degrees are routine in the thin high desert air.
Typical pressure: Bend averages 891 hPa at rest, measured at the city's own elevation rather than corrected to sea level, and storm systems can push readings down to 875 hPa. Swings of 5-9 hPa over 24 hours are common during active weather and fall within the range most associated with pressure-triggered migraines.
Can Bend weather trigger migraines?
Yes. Bend experiences 5-9 hPa barometric pressure swings, and research shows pressure drops are one of the most common migraine triggers. The city's specific patterns include rain shadow pressure changes without precipitation, 20-degree daily temperature ranges, wildfire smoke during late summer.
What time of year are migraines worst in Bend?
In Bend 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.
How do I track migraine triggers in Bend?
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 Bend's weather conditions over time.
Loading live forecast for Bend...