The Fibromyalgia-Weather Connection: Fact or Fiction?

The Research That Proves It

A comprehensive 2024 study published in a major rheumatology journal tracked fibromyalgia patients over an entire year, correlating their daily symptom reports with detailed weather data. The results were striking: barometric pressure changes predicted pain increases with remarkable consistency.

When atmospheric pressure dropped—typically before storms—patients reported significantly higher pain levels within 12-24 hours. The effect was dose-dependent: larger pressure drops correlated with more severe pain increases. This wasn't random fluctuation or placebo effect. The relationship was clear, consistent, and statistically significant.

What the Numbers Show

Temperature changes also played a role. Drops in temperature of more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit over 24 hours increased pain complaints by an average of 20%. Cold weather alone wasn't the only culprit—rapid temperature fluctuations in either direction caused problems.

Humidity emerged as another factor. High humidity (above 70%) combined with temperature extremes created the worst conditions for fibromyalgia symptoms. Patients in the study reported peak pain levels on hot, humid days and cold, damp days.

Perhaps most validating for patients: the research found that individuals who reported being "weather sensitive" showed stronger correlations between weather variables and symptoms than those who didn't identify as weather sensitive. In other words, if you think weather affects you, it probably does—and the data backs that up.

More Recent Evidence

A 2025 study using smartphone apps to track symptoms and weather in real-time across thousands of fibromyalgia patients confirmed these findings on a much larger scale. The massive dataset allowed researchers to control for numerous variables and still found robust weather-pain connections.

This research also identified that not all fibromyalgia patients are equally weather-sensitive. About 30% show minimal weather effects, while 40% show moderate sensitivity, and 30% are highly sensitive with dramatic symptom changes based on weather conditions.