Barometric Pressure and Weather: What Rising and Falling Pressure Means
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Barometric (air) pressure is the weight of the air above you. It's measured in inches of mercury (inHg) in U.S. reports and in hectopascals (hPa), also called millibars (mb), almost everywhere else.
High and low pressure
- High pressure: air sinks, which tends to bring drier, more settled weather.
- Low pressure: air rises, cools and condenses, which tends to bring clouds and precipitation. Storms form around low-pressure centers.
Watch the trend
The change over a few hours tells you more than a single reading. Steadily falling pressure often means an approaching low and worsening weather; rising pressure often means clearing. A very rapid drop can signal a strong storm.
Station vs. sea-level pressure
Pressure falls as you go higher, so weather reports adjust readings to sea level so places at different elevations can be compared. A home barometer usually needs to be calibrated to your local reported sea-level pressure.
Related guides
Your World Weather Radar
The app compares several forecast models and shows how much they agree, so you can see how confident a forecast is.
Sources
- NWS JetStream: Air pressure
- NWS JetStream: Highs and lows
- NOAA NESDIS: What are high and low pressure systems?
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Last reviewed November 2026. General information only; follow official guidance in an emergency.