# They keep saying that Sandy is bringing in the lowest pressure in years. Why is this important? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206 "2012-10-29T13:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/21 "2012-10-29T23:49:39Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Another issue related to low pressure is the “storm surge”. Storm-related winds can produce flooding by driving water on shore. When the atmospheric pressure is low, the level of the ocean rises a bit and that leads to increased flooding in coastal areas. Standard pressure is 1013 mb = 406.7 inches of water. Sandy’s pressure is 943 mb = 378.6 inches of water. So the ocean level should rise 28.1 inches just from the pressure drop? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/22 "2012-10-30T14:15:55Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Do you also get a headache when driving up a hill? The standard pressure at just 3000’ MSL is around 908 mb, which is worse than a severe hurricane. I don’t know what MSL is, but I think you’re talking about 3000 feet elevation. I live at about 80 feet above sea level. The highest point in my state is about 300 feet. So no, I don’t get a headache when driving up a hill. I did have headaches every day when I visited Montana. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/23 "2012-10-30T15:31:53Z")
I think describing a mountain by its height is a good analogy. A tall mountain means either a very steep climb, or a very long but moderate climb, or a combination of both. Similarly, a storm with a very low pressure means very strong winds, large size or a bit of both. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/24 "2012-10-30T15:48:47Z")
Aha! I was so achey last night I thought the flu was coming on. I hadn’t thought about the atmospheric pressure, and feel just fine this morning. Thanks y’all! ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/25 "2012-10-30T17:44:57Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I don’t know what MSL is,… Mean Sea Level. It’s pilot talk. The other ‘altitude’ term they use is AGL = Above Ground Level. MSL tells you how your aircraft performs, because that determines air pressure. AGL tells you something even more important. There’s a mountain in your way. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/26 "2012-10-30T19:07:05Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > MSL tells you how your aircraft performs, because that _ **determines** _ air pressure.. WRONG!!! _ **Is determined by!!!** _ Shoot the idiots. Starting with me… ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/27 "2012-10-30T19:16:54Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > I don’t get these “low air pressure = headache” statements either. How would anyone cope with flying if this were the case? Aircraft are generally pressurized to the equivalent of around 7000’. I don’t see people writhing in the aisles on a normal flight. One time I flew with a nasty sinus infection – my entire head was plugged up even after taking sudafed for a few days. I was in a window seat, writhing against the side of the plain, otherwise I might have been in the fetal position in the aisles. It was the worst pain I can remember experiencing (though I haven’t had many injuries or otherwise painful experiences). By point of comparison, the headache was much worse than the migraines I occasionally get, or the case of shingles I had a few years ago. So I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a milder degree of sinus blockage that results in pressure equalization that’s too slow to keep up with the changes that occur while flying or driving up a mountain. ---
**Author:** ![Ouizee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@Ouizee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ouizee)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/28 "2012-10-31T04:39:53Z")
Could a guy make a pressure vessel to hang out in during a storm that offers a slightly greater pressure than outside ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/29 "2012-10-31T04:53:31Z")
Sure - here’s a portable version: the [Gamow Bag](http://www.chinookmed.com/cgi-bin/item/06001/s-high_altitude/-Gamow-Bag-Hyperbaric-Chamber,-Civilian-Model---). ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206/30 "2012-11-02T00:40:04Z")
That, or install a one-way valve in the forehead so the frontal sinus has a way to communicate with the outside air. You’d always know when a big storm was coming whenever your forehead valve popped open for a bit. (In the real world this would be an unacceptable infection risk, but these are the things I think about.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-keep-saying-that-sandy-is-bringing-in-the-lowest-pressure-in-years-why-is-this-important/639206.md?page=1)