Live · KBIS · reported 50 min ago
Barometric pressure in Bismarck, ND today
29.93inHg
1013.6 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.12 inHg · −4.1 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 29.93 – 30.13 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 28.15 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · near normal
Last 7 days
7-day barometric pressure graph for Bismarck
Over the last 7 days, barometric pressure in Bismarck ranged from 29.62 inHg (Monday) to 30.18 inHg (Thursday). The sharpest fall was 0.18 inHg within six hours, today.
| Day · inHg | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 30.13 | 29.93 | −0.19 |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 30.10 | 29.90 | +0.09 |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 30.17 | 30.03 | −0.14 |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 30.18 | 30.03 | +0.14 |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 30.02 | 29.88 | +0.02 |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 30.13 | 30.01 | 0.00 |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 30.00 | 29.62 | +0.25 |
Altimeter setting from KBIS (METAR), one report per hour. “Change” is the first to the last report of that day; today is so far.
Bismarck at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Bismarck
Bismarck is about 1,686 ft (514 m) above sea level. That is high enough that the air pressure you actually stand in is well below the figure in the forecast: about 28.14 inHg (953 hPa) on a standard day, against 29.92 inHg at sea level.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Bismarck Arpt (KBIS), 4 km (2 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Bismarck with any other city.
Bismarck elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 1,686 ft · 514 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Bismarck Arpt (KBIS) |
| Station elevation | 1,660 ft · 506 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 28.14 inHg · 953 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 94% |
| Water boils at | 208.9 °F · 98.3 °C |
| Time zone | America/Chicago |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Bismarck high or low?
Today’s reading is near normal. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Bismarck and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Bismarck today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Bismarck Arpt (KBIS), 4 km (2 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Bismarck?
Weather reports for Bismarck use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Bismarck read lower than the forecast?
Bismarck sits at about 1,686 ft (514 m). At that height the air above weighs less, so an uncorrected sensor reads around 28.14 inHg (953 hPa) on a standard day. Forecasts correct that to sea level. Set a home barometer to the sea-level value on this page, or use the station pressure line for an uncorrected comparison.
Where can I see a 7-day barometric pressure graph for Bismarck?
The graph on this page shows the last 7 days of hourly sea-level pressure from KBIS, with each day's high and low in the table below it. Its sharpest fall usually marks a front or storm passing through.
Is the pressure in Bismarck rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.