Most of us are thankfully lacking this rather unwelcome talent, but even subtle shifts in the atmosphere seem to correlate with changes in our bodies. While scientists have yet to confirm many of these proposed links, the evidence so far is intriguing. If true, it would mean everything from your risk of a heart attack to the sex of your unborn child may, to a greater or lesser extent, depend on the forecaster’s predictions.

Read on to discover the myths and the genuine mysteries.



1) Rain gives you rheumatism… maybe

Despite anecdotal reports that wet and windy conditions inflame the joints, the evidence is about as clear as a British summer. A review in 2011, looking at nine studies to date, concluded that there was no consistent effect of the weather on the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, the apparent link may just be a case of “confirmation bias”. If you already believe that rain brings pain, you are more likely to notice the rainy days where you feel discomfort, and ignore those when you feel fine.