Pressure & Chinook Alert Levels
How ChinookWatch interprets barometric pressure changes and Chinook-like weather patterns.
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Safe — Pressure Stable — No significant rapid pressure changes in the last several hours. Typical baseline for migraine-sensitive tracking.
Watch — Notable Change — Moderate drop (≥3 hPa in 6 h or ≥5 hPa in 12 h), or pressure rising after a drop (transition phase). Monitor symptoms if you are pressure-sensitive.
Alert — Rapid Pressure Drop — Drop ≥ your threshold (default 5 hPa in 6 h, or 60% of threshold in 3 h). Often precedes Chinook winds; migraine risk may increase for sensitive individuals.
Chinook-like conditions
When a rapid pressure drop coincides with warming ≥4°C in 6 hours and westerly winds (225°–315° from), ChinookWatch flags Chinook conditions likely. Chinook winds in Southern Alberta often bring abrupt temperature rises and very dry air on the lee side of the Rockies.
- Pre-Chinook: pressure falling, winds shifting, humidity dropping
- During Chinook: strong westerly/southwesterly flow, rapid warming
- Post-Chinook: pressure may recover; some people feel symptoms in all phases
Pressure change reference
| < 3 hPa / 6 h | Normal variability — Safe |
| 3–5 hPa drop / 6–12 h | Watch — worth monitoring |
| ≥ 5 hPa drop / 6 h | Alert at default threshold |
| Rising >3 hPa / 6 h | Watch — recovery/transition phase |
Adjust your pressure-drop threshold in ChinookWatch settings. Data is model-based (Open-Meteo), not direct station readings.
Awareness tool only — not medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for migraine management.