Denver
Denver International Airport
KDENCurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast
About Denver International Airport
Denver experiences frequent mountain wave turbulence from Rocky Mountain winds. Consistently ranked among America's bumpiest airports.
Is Denver International Airport turbulent?
Denver is consistently ranked among the most turbulent airports in America due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Mountain wave turbulence occurs when high-speed winds pass over the peaks and create powerful oscillating air currents on the eastern side. The airport experiences frequent bumpy approaches and departures, particularly when winds blow from the west.
- Four of the top five bumpiest US routes involve Denver
- Mountain waves can extend 100+ miles from the Rockies
- Microbursts from dry thunderstorms are common in summer
What causes mountain wave turbulence at Denver?
When winds exceed 25 knots and blow perpendicular to the Rocky Mountain ridgeline, air accelerates up and over the peaks, then plunges down the eastern slopes in powerful waves. These invisible ripples in the atmosphere can toss aircraft around unpredictably. Pilots describe it as hitting invisible speed bumps at altitude. The effect is strongest in winter and early spring when the jet stream passes over Colorado.
When is the smoothest time to fly from Denver?
Early morning flights before 9 AM typically offer calmer conditions before thermal activity begins. Summer afternoons are especially rough due to microbursts and wind shear along the Front Range. Late September through early November often provides a window of calmer weather between summer storms and winter jet stream patterns.
Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 144
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DL3669
Delta Air Lines |
AUS | 19:24 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1913
United Airlines |
PSC | 19:24 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2028
United Airlines |
ONT | 19:24 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5777
United Airlines |
TUS | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA498
United Airlines |
PDX | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1347
United Airlines |
BZN | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN136
Southwest Airlines |
SMF | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA431
United Airlines |
GJT | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5377
United Airlines |
GUC | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1092
United Airlines |
MSO | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA719
United Airlines |
RNO | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2708
Southwest Airlines |
BUF | 19:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G43114
Allegiant Air |
VPS | 19:26 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G41562
Allegiant Air |
ATW | 19:29 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2745
United Airlines |
SJC | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1729
United Airlines |
PHX | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG5940
Key Lime Air |
CDR | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2622
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 19:30 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
UA696
United Airlines |
FCA | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1843
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2337
Southwest Airlines |
CLE | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA663
United Airlines |
MFR | 19:31 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2014
United Airlines |
BOI | 19:34 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2859
United Airlines |
EGE | 19:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA475
United Airlines |
IAH | 19:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN204
Southwest Airlines |
LAS | 19:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1588
United Airlines |
RDM | 19:36 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B680
Jetblue Airways |
JFK | 19:37 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1659
Southwest Airlines |
OMA | 19:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2791
United Airlines |
LAX | 19:43 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1550
United Airlines |
SBP | 19:45 Local | airbus a320-232 | Forecast |
WN1596
Southwest Airlines |
MCO | 19:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG143
Key Lime Air |
MCK | 19:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
AC579
Air Canada |
YVR | 19:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3035
Southwest Airlines |
SNA | 19:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1707
Southwest Airlines |
CMH | 19:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5669
Skywest Airlines |
COS | 19:50 Local | embraer e170lr | Forecast |
AS3217
Alaska Airlines |
SAN | 19:51 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2730
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 19:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1531
Southwest Airlines |
SDF | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5198
United Airlines |
LAF | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5174
United Airlines |
MOT | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I536
Netjets Aviation |
EDC | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6094
Skywest Airlines |
MFE | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4429
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 20:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG173
Denver Air Connection |
APA | 20:08 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94765
Frontier |
PHX | 20:08 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4214
Southwest Airlines |
AUS | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
FI672
Icelandair |
KEF | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2583
Southwest Airlines |
BZN | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1850
Southwest Airlines |
DAL | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1688
Southwest Airlines |
PIT | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5390
United Airlines |
GUC | 20:12 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94251
Frontier |
SLC | 20:13 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2122
Southwest Airlines |
TUS | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3866
Southwest Airlines |
EUG | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3112
Southwest Airlines |
ELP | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2043
Southwest Airlines |
RNO | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1796
Southwest Airlines |
BOI | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1544
Southwest Airlines |
SBA | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3099
Southwest Airlines |
GEG | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ418
Flexjet |
NUQ | 20:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5034
Skywest Airlines |
FMN | 20:20 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
WN1997
Southwest Airlines |
PDX | 20:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6082
Skywest Airlines |
FAT | 20:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4651
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 20:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2282
Southwest Airlines |
ABQ | 20:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2076
Southwest Airlines |
SJC | 20:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2369
United Airlines |
ANC | 20:21 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA377
United Airlines |
ORD | 20:23 Local | boeing 737 max 9 | Forecast |
OO5824
Skywest Airlines |
LNK | 20:24 Local | mitsubishi crj-701er | Forecast |
|
F94584
Frontier Airlines |
MCO | 20:24 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA760
United Airlines |
MUC | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5781
United Airlines |
ASE | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
TK202
Turkish Airlines |
IST | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2010
Southwest Airlines |
SNA | 20:25 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN3209
Southwest Airlines |
BUR | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5964
Skywest Airlines |
FAR | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA262
United Airlines |
LHR | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6025
Skywest Airlines |
GCC | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
F94856
Frontier (Steve The Eagle Livery) |
IAH | 20:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5052
Skywest Airlines |
HYS | 20:28 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5030
United Airlines |
BTM | 20:29 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5292
Skywest Airlines |
COS | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1969
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA3888
United Airlines |
AMA | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5214
United Airlines |
MSN | 20:34 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6076
United Airlines |
LBF | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6061
United Airlines |
SHR | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5204
Skywest Airlines |
FSD | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5107
United Airlines |
SLN | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1133
Southwest Airlines |
STL | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4773
United Airlines |
CID | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5139
United Express |
JLN | 20:35 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
WN158
Southwest Airlines |
LAX | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5269
United Airlines |
XNA | 20:37 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA395
United Airlines |
SAT | 20:39 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5018
Skywest Airlines |
RIW | 20:39 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3315
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5695
United Airlines |
DRO | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5091
United Airlines |
PIR | 20:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4727
United Airlines |
OKC | 20:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5389
United Airlines |
DSM | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5687
United Airlines |
SGF | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4303
Southwest Airlines |
SFO | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5366
United Airlines |
MOT | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5059
United Airlines |
EAR | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5097
United Airlines |
DIK | 20:48 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5261
Skywest Airlines |
XWA | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN8512
Southwest Airlines |
PAE | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1910
United Airlines |
YVR | 20:53 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5226
Skywest Airlines |
CPR | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4799
United Airlines |
BIS | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2440
United Airlines |
TUL | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5240
Skywest Airlines |
GJT | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5051
United Airlines |
RKS | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1737
Southwest Airlines |
SLC | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1473
Southwest Airlines |
SAN | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5106
United Airlines |
PRC | 21:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5125
United Express |
LAR | 21:00 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
|
1I325
Netjets Aviation |
SMO | 21:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
F93172
Frontier (Hugh The Manatee Livery) |
ORD | 21:00 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
UA5132
United Airlines |
COD | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1671
Southwest Airlines |
PDX | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1787
United Airlines |
OMA | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4432
Southwest Airlines |
DTW | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5083
Skywest Airlines |
CYS | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1505
Southwest Airlines |
BZN | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92996
Frontier |
IAH | 21:06 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6060
United Airlines |
SGU | 21:07 Local | -- | Forecast |
FX1220
Fedex |
MEM | 21:07 Local | boeing 767-300f | Forecast |
OO5101
Skywest Airlines |
SUX | 21:08 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4755
United Airlines |
ICT | 21:09 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5257
United Airlines |
BIL | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO4650
Skywest Airlines |
COS | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4761
United Airlines |
ABQ | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2651
United Airlines |
SEA | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5303
United Airlines |
RAP | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5700
United Airlines |
FSD | 21:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B6620
Jetblue Airways |
BOS | 21:12 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I525
Netjets Aviation |
TEB | 21:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
FX1628
Fedex |
IND | 21:19 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5280
Skywest Airlines |
FAR | 21:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1663
Southwest Airlines |
ONT | 21:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3669
UA1913
UA2028
UA5777
UA498
UA1347
WN136
UA431
UA5377
UA1092
UA719
WN2708
UA2745
UA1729
KG5940
WN2622
UA696
WN1843
WN2337
UA663
UA2014
UA2859
UA475
WN204
UA1588
WN1659
UA2791
UA1550
WN1596
KG143
AC579
WN3035
WN1707
OO5669
AS3217
WN2730
WN1531
UA5198
UA5174
OO6094
WN4429
KG173
WN4214
FI672
WN2583
WN1850
WN1688
UA5390
WN2122
WN3866
WN3112
WN2043
WN1796
WN1544
WN3099
OO5034
WN1997
OO6082
WN4651
WN2282
WN2076
UA2369
UA377
OO5824
UA760
UA5781
TK202
WN2010
WN3209
OO5964
UA262
OO6025
F94856
OO5052
UA5030
OO5292
WN1969
UA3888
UA5214
UA6076
UA6061
OO5204
UA5107
WN1133
UA4773
UA5139
WN158
UA5269
UA395
OO5018
WN3315
UA5695
UA5091
UA4727
UA5389
UA5687
WN4303
UA5366
UA5059
UA5097
OO5261
WN8512
UA1910
OO5226
UA4799
UA2440
OO5240
UA5051
WN1737
WN1473
UA5106
UA5125
F93172
UA5132
WN1671
UA1787
WN4432
OO5083
WN1505
UA6060
FX1220
OO5101
UA4755
UA5257
OO4650
UA4761
UA2651
UA5303
UA5700
FX1628
OO5280
WN1663