Can you smell rain?

[IndividualApplicant]

Just sat in the office and people were commenting on whether or not it has started raining yet as it has suddenly gone very dark here. I said that it hasn't but "I can smell it coming" and everyone looked at me like I was bonkers! Another female in the office agreed with me but no one else has any idea what we're talking about.

Anyone else able to smell when it's about to rain??

Petrichor. Yes.

there was a thread about this recently. It was so interesting- we could all smell very specific things.

Yes, and also in summer about 30 minutes before it rains my ears start tickling really badly. I always know that means it's about to rain. Nobody ever believes me though!

Not before it rains, but immediately it starts to rain in terms of wet tarmac etc.

DH is Scandinavian and reckons he can smell snow coming though 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t smell it, but there’s certain winds that get up (very swirly) and I know that rain is coming shortly

yes

Yes, I reckon ten minutes

Yes I can!

Yes I know exactly what you mean. I also get really bad headaches about 15/20mins before a storm. Very useful when I have the washing drying outside.

Yes, it's very obvious to me.
here's an article about what creates the smell...www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/rain/petrichor

No but I can smell frost before it happens though. The air smells like sherbet to me when it's going to be frosty later.

Yes I can! My husband thinks I'm nuts and that rain doesn't smell, but I always say it smells like rain, then it will start raining 5/10 mins later!

Petrichor is released after it starts raining, OP can probably smell ozone.

Ah just read that high humidity prior to rain can release petrichor too! Every day is a school day.

Yes I can, I do think most people can but maybe don't realise what the smell is.

Yes I can def smell it before. Ozone is a bit different. It’s less wet wool somehow.

I love the smell of rain

Yea, I can smell it too.

Yeah, I can smell rain coming. I can feel it coming as well. There's something in the air that augurs rain.

I can smell snow.

I can and I've had the weird looks too.

DH laughs at me because my nose is more accurate than the weather forecast at times. He learned his lesson to trust me though the day he didn't take a coat with him because the forecast said 0% chance of rain all day but I took mine because I could smell it. He got soaked. 😁

There's a change in the air often a few hours before rain comes in then it changes again around 10/15 minutes before it actually rains. Then when it's raining it changes again, even if there isn't petrichor, that's different to this. I can't explain it to anyone that can't smell it though. Petrichor is a greeny smell to me and the air smells are different shades of pale blue or grey.

I can also smell "winter" as well. It's different every year but one day it just smells differently outside and that's when I know it's winter properly. It smells like the palest of pale blues.

Yep. And snow too.

I can't smell it but I always without fail get a headache before it rains. Then when it rains my headache eases off! As I'm writing this I've just heard thunder!

Yep I can smell rain and snow coming

Yes, I can. I also feel slightly queasy before a storm, and as soon as the storm comes (like right now 😁) that feeling goes away.

Yes, petrichor. My favourite smell!