Barometric pressure today
Nearest station to Columbus, OH
30.13 inHg
1020.4 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- +0.3 hPa (+0.01 inHg)
- 24-hour range
- 30.00 inHg / 1016.0 hPa to 30.13 inHg / 1020.4 hPa
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 29.30 inHg / 992.3 hPa
- Observed
- 3:51 PM EST · Columbus/Glenn Intl, OH, US (KCMH)
Reading the number
Is today’s pressure high or low?
Standard sea-level pressure is 29.92 inHg (1013.25 hPa). Today’s reading is slightly high. Use the ranges below; the trend over the last three hours tells you where the weather is heading.
| inHg | hPa / mb | What it means | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| above 30.50 | above 1033 | Very high | Cold, dry, clear air; calm |
| 30.20 – 30.50 | 1023 – 1033 | High | Fair and settled |
| 29.80 – 30.20 | 1009 – 1023 | Normal | Changeable; watch the trend |
| 29.50 – 29.80 | 999 – 1009 | Low | Clouds, wind, showers likely |
| below 29.50 | below 999 | Very low | Stormy; strong winds and rain |
Sea-level values. Ranges are rules of thumb for mid-latitudes; the change over a few hours is a better guide than any single number. What counts as normal pressure
Rising or falling
What the 3-hour trend tells you
Forecasters describe pressure change over three hours with a fixed vocabulary. A barometer that is falling quickly is the oldest storm warning there is; a steady rise after rain means the weather is clearing.
| Change in 3 h | Described as |
|---|---|
| under 0.1 hPa | Steady |
| 0.1 – 1.5 hPa | Rising / falling slowly |
| 1.6 – 3.5 hPa | Rising / falling |
| 3.6 – 6.0 hPa | Rising / falling quickly |
| over 6.0 hPa | Rising / falling very rapidly |
Live by city
Barometric pressure in major cities
Each city page shows the live reading, the 24-hour graph and how the city’s elevation changes what a barometer reads there.
Free tools
More pressure and altitude tools
What is my elevation?
Your elevation above sea level from your location, with the air pressure you should expect there.
Pressure converter
inHg, hPa, mb, mmHg, kPa, psi and atm — type in any box, the rest follow.
Pressure altitude calculator
Pressure altitude, density altitude and altitude from a barometer reading.
Guides
Understand the barometer
Basics
What Is Barometric Pressure? A Plain-English Guide
Barometric pressure is the weight of the air above you. Here is what the number means, the units it comes in, what is normal and why it changes with the weather.
Basics
What Is Normal Barometric Pressure?
Normal sea-level pressure is 29.92 inHg (1013.25 hPa). Here are the ranges for high, low and extreme readings, and why the normal at your elevation is lower.
Weather
High vs Low Pressure: What Each Means for the Weather
High pressure usually brings clear, calm weather; low pressure brings clouds, wind and rain. Here is why, with the numbers that separate them and how to tell which one you are in today.
How-to
How to Read a Barometer (and Forecast the Weather)
How to read a dial barometer or barometer app, set it correctly for your elevation and use the rising or falling trend to forecast the next 12–24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure today?
The reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level barometric pressure from the weather station nearest to you, updated about every 10 minutes. Standard sea-level pressure is 29.92 inHg (1013.25 hPa); most days fall between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg.
Is the barometric pressure high or low today?
Compare the reading with 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa). Above about 30.20 inHg (1023 hPa) is high pressure, usually with settled, clear weather. Below about 29.80 inHg (1009 hPa) is low pressure, often with clouds, wind and rain. The trend matters as much as the number: see the 3-hour change under the reading.
Where does this barometric pressure reading come from?
From official airport weather stations (METAR reports) published by the NOAA Aviation Weather Center. The value is the altimeter setting: the station pressure corrected to sea level, the same figure weather apps and TV forecasts call "pressure". More about the data.
Why does my phone or home barometer show a different number?
A barometer sensor measures absolute pressure where it is, which drops about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft (300 m) you climb. Weather reports correct that to sea level so places can be compared. The "station (absolute) pressure" line above shows roughly what an uncorrected sensor reads at your station.
What does a falling barometer mean?
Pressure falling 1.6–3.5 hPa (0.05–0.10 inHg) in three hours usually means a low-pressure system or front is approaching, with a growing chance of wind and rain. A fall of more than 6 hPa in three hours signals a strong storm. Rising pressure points to clearing, more settled weather.
How often is the pressure updated?
Most stations report every hour, and more often when the weather changes quickly. The page checks for a new report every 10 minutes while it is open.