Why You Feel Tired Before It Rains | Double Board Certified Counseling Services

Why You Feel Tired Before It Rains

Client education handout •
Double Board Certified Counseling Services, Inc.
Provider
Mark Zauss, LMHC, LPC, CCMHC, NBCC, BC‑TMC, ADHD‑CCSP, C‑DBT, CCTP
Licensed in Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut
Topic: Weather‑related fatigue
Audience: Clients & families
Format: Printable
In short: Fatigue before rainfall is a real, multi‑factor response to changes in barometric pressure, light exposure (serotonin ↓ / melatonin ↑), humidity & oxygen uptake, air ion balance, and the body’s pain/vestibular sensitivity.

Physiology Behind Pre‑Rain Fatigue

1) Barometric pressure drop

Falling atmospheric pressure can slightly reduce available oxygen and affect inner‑ear (vestibular) pressure and vascular tone, contributing to dizziness, head pressure, or tiredness.

2) Less sunlight → serotonin ↓ / melatonin ↑

Cloud cover reduces blue‑light input to circadian centers, lowering serotonin (alertness) and raising melatonin (sleep drive).

3) Humidity & warm air

Humid, warm air impairs evaporative cooling and contains less oxygen per volume than cool, dry air, increasing perceived effort and fatigue.

4) Air ions shift

Pre‑storm air tends to accumulate positive ions; rainfall increases negative ions that many people experience as refreshing afterward.

5) Pain & pressure sensitivity

Individuals with migraines, sinus issues, arthritis, TMJ, or fibromyalgia often feel symptom flares when weather changes, which can drain energy.

6) Evolutionary pacing

Lower light and pressure cues may nudge the parasympathetic system toward energy conservation until conditions improve.

References (APA 7th)

  1. Alperin, N., Lee, S. H., Mazda, M., Hushek, S. G., Roitberg, B., & Goddwin, J. (2005). Effect of barometric pressure changes on intracranial pressure in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 99(2), 460–466. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01303.2004
  2. Baumgarten, R., & Fiedler, P. (2018). The influence of atmospheric pressure changes on headache and fatigue symptoms. Cephalalgia, 38(3), 452–460. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102416681571
  3. Cajochen, C., Chellappa, S. L., & Schmidt, C. (2010). Circadian and light effects on human sleepiness–alertness: Neurobehavioral and electroencephalographic aspects. In Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience (Vol. 19, pp. 66–77). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53702-7.00006-9
  4. Huang, Z., Zhang, L., & Zhao, J. (2016). Influence of relative humidity on human thermoregulation and fatigue. Building and Environment, 109, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.09.021
  5. Krueger, A. P., & Reed, E. J. (1976). Biological impact of small air ions. Science, 193(4259), 1209–1213. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.959834
  6. Oren, D. A., & Rosenthal, N. E. (1992). Seasonal affective disorders: A review of the syndrome and its public health implications. American Journal of Public Health, 82(7), 986–992. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.82.7.986
  7. Schneider, R., Cramer, P., & Weber, T. (2018). Low atmospheric pressure and fatigue: A possible explanation for weather sensitivity. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1352. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01352
  8. Terman, M., & Terman, J. S. (2005). Light therapy for seasonal and nonseasonal depression: Efficacy, protocol, safety, and side effects. CNS Spectrums, 10(8), 647–663. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852900019611
  9. Yamamoto, S., & Hoshiko, T. (2010). Effects of atmospheric ions on mood and energy: A review of evidence. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(5), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0158-8
©
 Double Board Certified Counseling Services, Inc. This handout is educational and not a substitute for medical advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your physician.