For years, my dad would ask me if it was supposed to rain soon.

He was asking because he'd start to feel increased discomfort in his knees and joints not long before rain or a change to our weather arrived.

What You Need To Know

  • Joint pain can be a sign of changing weather

  • Despite correlations, the exact connection is unclear

  • Doctors have some theories on the matter

Doctors do indeed believe that there can be more joint pain on the human body on cold, rainy days. There are several variables, doctors say, that may cause this sudden discomfort.

The change in barometric pressure ahead of an approaching weather system plays a large role. Other factors, such as humidity levels, precipitation and temperature swings can all happen with an impending change in our weather.

Since there are several variables, doctors have not been able to pinpoint what it is about the weather that causes this pain other than grouping these variables collectively.

What we know... and don't know

There are several studies on this very topic. More recent comprehensive studies, such as this one from the United Kingdom, found ties between pain and weather, but what exactly the culprit is remains uncertain.

Despite no clear or proven connection, joint and muscle aches for people with changing weather are very real. There are a few theories that have been thrown out there.

One is that people with arthritis suffer more than others. When the cartilage next to the bone wears away, exposed nerves may pick up on sudden changes in pressure more easily.

Another theory looks at how changing pressure can also cause your muscles and scar tissue to expand and contrast, causing more discomfort than usual.

A drop in temperature may even disrupt your body's fluid motion, making somebody feel a bit different.

And in general, poor weather can prevent us from moving around as much as we normally would, causing a stiffening of our muscles and joints.

What you can do

There are ways to prevent this increase in bodily discomfort due to changing weather conditions.

Doctors recommend doing your best to keep your body warm during the cooler months while living a healthier and more active lifestyle. If all else fails, doctors can recommend specific medications to fit your pain need.

A person's body can tell when something in the weather is changing. Just don't go asking it how much rain or snow we'll be getting.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.