American Airlines DTW PHX AA980
American Airlines · Live forecast
DTW PHX
AA980 · Mar 16, 2026 · 18:50 ED · airbus a321-231
77
Calm Score
"Mostly smooth — one short bumpy section you'll handle."
4h 46m
Duration
1,449 nm
Distance
36,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
VERY HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity — higher means rougher
Smooth Light Moderate Severe

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Your flight departs in less than 6 hours. The forecast is unlikely to change significantly at this point.

💙
We know turbulence can feel scary — especially on long flights. This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why you'll be completely safe. 1 in 3 passengers feel exactly like you.
Right now on your route
Live pilot reports from aircraft flying DTW → PHX
15 pilot reports along this route
8 / 15
Reporting smooth
1 / 15
Light turbulence
6
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Moderate
IND UA /OV VHP360015/TM 1751/FL210/TP B190/TB CONS MOD CHOP
6m ago
Smooth
ORD UA /OV ORD/TM 1750/FL011/TP CRJ2/RM GAIN 15 KTS 011
7m ago
Smooth
CLE UA /OV CGF090010/TM 1748/FL038/TP C525/SK OVC038
9m ago
Smooth
ORD UA /OV MDW130040/TM 1746/FL072/TP B737/TA M21/IC LGT RIME
11m ago
Smooth
GLD UA /OV GLD080040/TM 1746/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-17
11m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
5,500 data points analyzed · VERY HIGH confidence
Your Journey Beta

A brief bumpy patch may occur during cruise. It's nothing to worry about - just keep your seatbelt fastened.

Your route takes you over the Rocky Mountains and across the Sonoran Desert – these areas can sometimes cause light turbulence.

Mostly Smooth

Overall conditions look mostly smooth with occasional light bumps. Nothing to worry about.

Takeoff

Takeoff should feel smooth with possible light bumps, with calm conditions around the airport.

Winds Aloft

Winds at cruising altitude are about 85 knots. These winds may delay arrival by a few minutes.

Landing

Landing should feel a bit bumpy on descent with typical approach conditions.

You're in Safe Hands

If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.

Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Flight Timeline 4h 46min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-0:59
Light
0:59-1:28
Light
1:28-1:56
Light
1:56-2:24
Light
2:24-2:52
Light
2:52-3:20
Light
3:20-3:48
Moderate
3:48-4:16
Light
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport — Departure
Wind
22 kt G34 (270°)
Sky
Overcast
Temperature
2°C
Conditions
MVFR — Reduced visibility, minor delays possible
PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — Arrival
Wind
6 kt (300°)
Sky
Scattered
Temperature
25°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Evening Flight Departure
Time of day
Evening Flight
Tip
Evening and night flights typically offer smoother conditions as thermal activity subsides and the atmosphere stabilizes after sunset.
When
Today
airbus a321-231
Category
Narrow-Body Aircraft
Size
Medium
Comfort
Single-aisle mainline jets like this offer a comfortable ride. While you may feel turbulence more than on wide-body aircraft, they are engineered to handle it smoothly.
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their predictive accuracy — giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead of vague categories.

This forecast integrates data from:

Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.