Cold Weather and a Runny Nose: What to Know

The nose warms and moistens inhaled air. In cold conditions, it may produce extra fluid, while rapid temperature changes can also make nasal blood vessels react.

Clear dripping that begins outdoors and settles after returning to a warm environment fits cold-air irritation. Sneezing, an itchy nose or eyes, and symptoms linked to dust, pets, or a particular indoor setting fit allergic rhinitis more closely.

A common cold, influenza, or COVID-19 can also present with a runny nose, especially when there is sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue, or body aches. Facial pressure, reduced smell, or thick discharge can occur with sinus inflammation, but mucus colour alone does not identify the cause.

Cover your nose loosely with a scarf or mask outdoors so the air warms before you breathe it in. A saline nasal spray can moisturise dry nasal passages, and gentle nose blowing may reduce skin irritation around the nostrils.

Notice whether symptoms follow cold exposure or continue indoors. If dust or pet exposure is a repeat trigger, reducing that exposure may help. A pharmacist or clinician can advise whether an antihistamine or nasal treatment suits your symptoms and other medicines.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, faintness, confusion, blue or grey lips, severe headache with neck stiffness, or rapidly worsening symptoms. These warning signs require assessment regardless of whether cold air seemed to trigger the runny nose.

Arrange a routine appointment if symptoms persist away from cold air, repeatedly disturb sleep, affect daily activities, or come with ongoing facial pain, wheezing, frequent nosebleeds, or discharge from only one nostril.

Ask whether your timing and triggers suggest cold-air irritation, allergic rhinitis, infection, or another nasal problem. Also discuss which nasal spray technique is appropriate, how long to use a recommended medicine, and whether wheezing or persistent one-sided symptoms need further assessment.