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) 174
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WN2333
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 15:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1848
Southwest Airlines |
DAL | 15:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA421
United Airlines |
IAD | 15:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5643
United Airlines |
SAF | 15:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91402
Frontier |
BNA | 15:51 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94776
Frontier |
LIT | 15:52 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO4770
Skywest Airlines |
GJT | 15:55 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
UA536
United Airlines |
SJO | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5024
Skywest Airlines |
SHR | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA182
United Airlines |
FRA | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1281
United Airlines |
SAN | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5706
Skywest Airlines |
GCC | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6045
United Express |
BOI | 15:56 Local | embraer e175ll | Forecast |
UA5978
United Airlines |
FAT | 15:57 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2013
United Airlines |
SEA | 15:58 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1208
United Airlines |
SMF | 15:58 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6101
Skywest Airlines |
MHK | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
SY8269
Sun Country Airlines |
IND | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6085
Skywest Airlines |
MCN | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5197
Skywest Airlines |
DVL | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2439
United Airlines |
PBI | 16:00 Local | boeing 737-824 | Forecast |
UA1337
United Airlines |
PDX | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1805
United Airlines |
HNL | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91560
Frontier |
MSN | 16:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1929
United Airlines |
LAS | 16:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B62882
Jetblue Airways |
FLL | 16:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG593
Key Lime Air |
AIA | 16:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
LH481
Lufthansa |
MUC | 16:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5038
Skywest Airlines |
DDC | 16:08 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
WN1595
Southwest Airlines |
MCO | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN8874
Southwest Airlines |
BWI | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG4122
Denver Air Connection |
DEN | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL1825
Delta Air Lines |
MSP | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94344
Frontier Airlines |
XNA | 16:13 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1086
United Airlines |
YVR | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG404
Key Lime Air |
LBF | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F93302
Frontier |
STL | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ351
Flexjet |
MTJ | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5294
United Airlines |
CPR | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG704
Key Lime Air |
BFF | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
F94794
Frontier (Trixie The Fox Livery) |
FAR | 16:16 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
|
G66143
Globalx |
HRL | 16:17 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4379
Southwest Airlines |
ECP | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5042
Skywest Airlines |
HYS | 16:20 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
UA588
United Airlines |
IAH | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5114
United Airlines |
LBL | 16:22 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5697
United Airlines |
ASE | 16:22 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G43080
Allegiant Air |
PIA | 16:24 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1552
Southwest Airlines |
SLC | 16:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1159
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 16:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2060
Southwest Airlines |
SAT | 16:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F9690
Frontier |
DCA | 16:27 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL840
Delta Air Lines |
ATL | 16:30 Local | airbus a321-211 | Forecast |
|
1I312
Netjets Aviation |
BZN | 16:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5A1876
Alpine Air Express |
GJT | 16:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA3040
United Airlines |
PUJ | 16:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6104
Skywest Airlines |
ACT | 16:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ578
Flexjet |
RIL | 16:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92015
Frontier |
LAS | 16:34 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1536
Southwest Airlines |
BHM | 16:35 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN4859
Southwest Airlines |
CLE | 16:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1982
Southwest Airlines |
CMH | 16:35 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
WN1626
Southwest Airlines |
PHL | 16:35 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN2270
Southwest Airlines |
BUF | 16:35 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
OO4788
Skywest Airlines |
RAP | 16:35 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
FI670
Icelandair |
KEF | 16:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3020
Southwest Airlines |
ICT | 16:40 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN8811
Southwest Airlines |
SJC | 16:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1860
Southwest Airlines |
GRR | 16:40 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
SY656
Sun Country Airlines |
MSP | 16:41 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN449
Southwest Airlines |
RDU | 16:45 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
UA1131
United Airlines |
ORD | 16:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4464
Southwest Airlines |
IND | 16:45 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
AM445
Aeromexico |
MEX | 16:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
CH1805
Bemidji Aviation |
TAD | 16:45 Local | beech u-8f seminole | Forecast |
KG181
Denver Air Connection |
DEN | 16:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3150
Southwest Airlines |
BWI | 16:45 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
SY8238
Sun Country Airlines |
IFP | 16:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LF3198
Contour Aviation |
CNM | 16:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3605
Southwest Airlines |
RNO | 16:50 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN3718
Southwest Airlines |
PDX | 16:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5080
United Airlines |
DIK | 16:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5X9763
Ups |
LGB | 16:54 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LF6337
Contour Airlines |
CNY | 16:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN140
Southwest Airlines |
STL | 16:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2070
United Airlines |
SFO | 16:56 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91874
Frontier |
OMA | 16:58 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA8
United Airlines |
ANC | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5A1814
Alpine Air Express |
DRO | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG5418
Key Lime Air |
CVN | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94070
Frontier |
DFW | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I575
Netjets |
LNK | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
8C4375
Ati |
SEA | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I439
Netjets Aviation |
QDH | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6087
United Airlines |
SLC | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
TK6883
Turkish Airlines |
IST | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA3932
United Airlines |
BOI | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5771
Skywest Airlines |
ASE | 17:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I259
Netjets Aviation |
BED | 17:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA7846
American Airlines |
AZA | 17:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4876
Southwest Airlines |
SRQ | 17:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2097
Southwest Airlines |
LGA | 17:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
CH1701
Bemidji Aviation |
ALS | 17:05 Local | beech c99 airliner | Forecast |
WN2592
Southwest Airlines |
ABQ | 17:05 Local | boeing 737-7bd | Forecast |
|
1I887
Netjets Aviation |
EGE | 17:06 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
Y41763
Volaris |
GDL | 17:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1587
United Airlines |
IAH | 17:18 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5A1856
Alpine Air Express |
RWL | 17:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1545
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 17:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2338
United Airlines |
LAS | 17:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1292
United Airlines |
PSP | 17:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92360
Frontier |
MSY | 17:23 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5282
United Airlines |
MAF | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1110
United Airlines |
SAT | 17:25 Local | boeing 737-824 | Forecast |
WN761
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 17:25 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
WN2689
Southwest Airlines |
RNO | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2240
United Airlines |
LAX | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5750
Skywest Airlines |
HOB | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2473
United Airlines |
TYS | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1282
United Airlines |
LIT | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1534
United Airlines |
RIC | 17:25 Local | boeing 737-824 | Forecast |
UA4638
United Airlines |
PIA | 17:27 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA645
United Airlines |
FSD | 17:28 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2091
Southwest Airlines |
BUR | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2764
United Airlines |
MIA | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA464
United Airlines |
SNA | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG
Denver Air Connection |
GXY | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5797
United Airlines |
COU | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5235
United Express |
DAY | 17:31 Local | embraer e175ll | Forecast |
UA1184
United Airlines |
OKC | 17:31 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5527
United Airlines |
YWG | 17:33 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1856
Southwest Airlines |
ECP | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5622
United Airlines |
LNK | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA27
United Airlines |
LHR | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5580
United Express |
RAP | 17:35 Local | mitsubishi crj-550 | Forecast |
WN1604
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4665
United Airlines |
BIS | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1921
Southwest Airlines |
LGB | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
EJM200
Executive Jet Management |
SJC | 17:36 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2324
United Airlines |
CID | 17:37 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91292
Frontier |
MSP | 17:38 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5512
United Airlines |
MLI | 17:38 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5815
United Express |
BHM | 17:38 Local | embraer e175ll | Forecast |
UA1961
United Airlines |
TPA | 17:39 Local | -- | Forecast |
FI
Icelandair |
KEF | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1204
United Airlines |
ATW | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LF3393
Contour Aviation |
VEL | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
LH447
Lufthansa |
FRA | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
AF59
Air France |
CDG | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5477
Skywest Airlines |
CPR | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1790
United Airlines |
CLE | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3094
Southwest Airlines |
ANC | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5028
United Airlines |
BFF | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA549
United Airlines |
DSM | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4480
Southwest Airlines |
LGA | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4774
United Airlines |
MKE | 17:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1412
United Airlines |
ALB | 17:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G4214
Allegiant Air |
ABE | 17:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA783
United Airlines |
MEX | 17:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1048
United Airlines |
ICT | 17:44 Local | boeing 737-824 | Forecast |
|
5A1813
Alpine Air Express |
DRO | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5A1827
Alpine Air Express |
CYS | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1422
United Airlines |
STL | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN247
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5191
United Airlines |
TUS | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5356
United Airlines |
HSV | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ377
Flexjet |
DVT | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5762
United Airlines |
SLC | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1374
United Airlines |
FLL | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA177
United Airlines |
FCO | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1220
United Airlines |
DTW | 17:47 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1305
United Airlines |
ATL | 17:48 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1669
United Airlines |
MCI | 17:48 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
UA5879
United Airlines |
SHV | 17:48 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2333
WN1848
UA421
UA5643
OO4770
UA536
OO5024
UA182
UA1281
OO5706
UA6045
UA5978
UA2013
UA1208
OO6101
SY8269
OO6085
OO5197
UA2439
UA1337
UA1805
UA1929
KG593
LH481
OO5038
WN1595
WN8874
KG4122
DL1825
UA1086
KG404
UA5294
KG704
F94794
WN4379
OO5042
UA588
UA5114
UA5697
WN1552
WN1159
WN2060
DL840
UA3040
OO6104
WN1536
WN4859
WN1982
WN1626
WN2270
OO4788
FI670
WN3020
WN8811
WN1860
SY656
WN449
UA1131
WN4464
AM445
KG181
WN3150
SY8238
WN3605
WN3718
UA5080
WN140
UA2070
UA8
KG5418
UA6087
TK6883
UA3932
OO5771
AA7846
WN4876
WN2097
WN2592
UA1587
WN1545
UA2338
UA1292
UA5282
UA1110
WN761
WN2689
UA2240
OO5750
UA2473
UA1282
UA1534
UA4638
UA645
WN2091
UA2764
UA464
KG
UA5797
UA5235
UA1184
UA5527
WN1856
UA5622
UA27
UA5580
WN1604
UA4665
WN1921
UA2324
UA5512
UA5815
UA1961
FI
UA1204
LH447
AF59
OO5477
UA1790
WN3094
UA5028
UA549
WN4480
UA4774
UA1412
UA783
UA1048
UA1422
WN247
UA5191
UA5356
UA5762
UA1374
UA177
UA1220
UA1305
UA1669
UA5879