Denver
Denver International Airport
KDENCurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast Convective Activity
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) 168
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WN2981
Southwest Airlines |
STL | 14:30 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
|
LXJ667
Flexjet |
QQN | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5289
United Airlines |
BIS | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO4789
Skywest Airlines |
XWA | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B68098
Jetblue Airways |
JFK | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG5920
Key Lime Air |
CDR | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
FI5299
Icelandair |
GYR | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I586
Netjets Aviation |
PDK | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN8515
Southwest Airlines |
PAE | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4214
United Airlines |
GSO | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG117
Key Lime Air |
SRC | 14:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
ZW7216
Air Wisconsin |
AZA | 14:31 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3285
American Airlines |
DFW | 14:33 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1892
Southwest Airlines |
IND | 14:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4688
Southwest Airlines |
BOI | 14:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3352
Southwest Airlines |
AUS | 14:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I157
Netjets |
IAD | 14:36 Local | -- | Forecast |
F92349
Frontier (Quin The Great Curassow Livery) |
LAS | 14:37 Local | airbus a321-211 | Forecast |
|
F92374
Frontier |
TYS | 14:37 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2787
Southwest Airlines |
MKE | 14:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2218
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 14:40 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
DL767
Delta Air Lines |
LAX | 14:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG4802
Key Lime Air |
PUB | 14:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5270
Skywest Airlines |
MAF | 14:40 Local | mitsubishi crj-550 | Forecast |
UA5098
United Airlines |
DIK | 14:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
F91694
Frontier (Martillo The Bonnethead Shark Livery) |
CMH | 14:42 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
OO4964
Skywest Airlines |
ASE | 14:44 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN433
Southwest Airlines |
RNO | 14:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4638
Southwest Airlines (California One Livery) |
SJC | 14:45 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
WN2137
Southwest Airlines |
COS | 14:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1942
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 14:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F93286
Frontier |
CVG | 14:47 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4540
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 14:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4719
Southwest Airlines |
RIC | 14:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2993
Southwest Airlines |
LGB | 14:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2044
Southwest Airlines |
RSW | 14:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B62627
Jetblue Airways |
HDN | 14:51 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3824
Southwest Airlines |
MCI | 14:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6030
United Airlines |
BZN | 14:57 Local | -- | Forecast |
AS1374
Alaska Airlines |
SEA | 14:57 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5192
Skywest Airlines |
MCN | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
MX6200
Breeze Airways |
SUX | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG3307
Denver Air Connection |
PIE | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92553
Frontier |
PDX | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN802
Southwest Airlines |
MCI | 15:00 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
UA5172
United Airlines |
SFO | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG610
Key Lime Air |
EUG | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3961
Southwest Airlines |
FAT | 15:00 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN2165
Southwest Airlines |
SAN | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2117
Southwest Airlines |
OKC | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG507
Key Lime Air |
DEN | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA6091
United Airlines |
SGU | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG820
Key Lime Air |
CEZ | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN250
Southwest Airlines |
TUS | 15:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL957
Delta Air Lines |
ATL | 15:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1416
Southwest Airlines |
LIT | 15:05 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN3671
Southwest Airlines |
SAT | 15:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1107
Southwest Airlines |
FLL | 15:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1023
United Airlines |
ORD | 15:06 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91248
Frontier |
GRR | 15:07 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ433
Flexjet |
EGE | 15:09 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5195
United Airlines |
MOT | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6090
Skywest Airlines |
PRC | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4771
United Airlines |
JAC | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG361
Denver Air Connection |
FNL | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F99506
Frontier |
LAS | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1779
Southwest Airlines |
MSP | 15:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92348
Frontier |
IND | 15:17 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1459
Southwest Airlines |
CVG | 15:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4940
Southwest Airlines |
BHM | 15:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1962
Southwest Airlines |
MSY | 15:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3364
Southwest Airlines |
MCO | 15:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3662
Southwest Airlines |
ONT | 15:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92261
Frontier |
ELP | 15:29 Local | -- | Forecast |
KX441
Cayman Airways |
GCM | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA3940
United Airlines |
EWR | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ264
Flexjet |
SUN | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG640
Key Lime Air |
COD | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1792
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
VB721
Viva |
MTY | 15:30 Local | airbus a320-232 | Forecast |
OO1007
Skywest Airlines |
DSM | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG864
Key Lime Air |
PVU | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO1002
Skywest Airlines |
SWO | 15:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5773
United Airlines |
SLC | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1899
United Airlines |
AUS | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3182
Southwest Airlines |
TUL | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4776
United Airlines |
FSD | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LF3337
Contour Aviation |
CNY | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA489
United Airlines |
IAH | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
B6394
Jetblue |
BOS | 15:35 Local | airbus a220-300 | Forecast |
WN840
Southwest Airlines |
SMF | 15:35 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
UA5498
United Airlines |
BIL | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5546
United Airlines |
COS | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5322
United Airlines |
IDA | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5057
United Express |
ROW | 15:35 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
WN4652
Southwest Airlines |
MSP | 15:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
F91598
Frontier (Meadow & West The Horses Livery) |
CRP | 15:37 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
UA5251
United Airlines |
OMA | 15:38 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ562
Flexjet |
APA | 15:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2013
United Airlines |
SEA | 15:41 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F92356
Frontier |
SAT | 15:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5265
United Airlines |
RAP | 15:43 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1195
United Airlines |
LAX | 15:43 Local | -- | Forecast |
ZW7225
Air Wisconsin |
AZA | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
F92440
Frontier (Betty The Bluebird Livery) |
RDU | 15:45 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
WN8879
Southwest Airlines |
PIT | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
KG4133
Key Lime Air |
MCK | 15:45 Local | swearingen metroliner | Forecast |
UA5469
United Express |
PSP | 15:45 Local | embraer e175ll | Forecast |
KG495
Key Lime Air |
CEZ | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ476
Flexjet |
LVK | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6107
Skywest Airlines |
MKC | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5817
United Airlines |
DRO | 15:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4281
Southwest Airlines |
TUS | 15:45 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
|
F94626
Frontier |
MEM | 15:46 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2633
United Airlines |
SFO | 15:47 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA421
United Airlines |
IAD | 15:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1827
Southwest Airlines |
CMH | 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 |
UA2764
United Airlines |
MIA | 15:53 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1281
United Airlines |
SAN | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA536
United Airlines |
SJO | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5024
Skywest Airlines |
SHR | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO4770
Skywest Airlines |
GJT | 15:55 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
UA182
United Airlines |
FRA | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5706
Skywest Airlines |
GCC | 15:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5978
United Airlines |
FAT | 15:57 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5294
Skywest Airlines |
CPR | 15:57 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
UA2439
United Airlines |
PBI | 16:00 Local | boeing 737-824 | Forecast |
OO6101
Skywest Airlines |
MHK | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5X9313
Ups Airlines |
ONT | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1805
United Airlines |
HNL | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
F91864
Frontier (Wellington The Black-Footed Ferret) |
OKC | 16:00 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
OO5197
Skywest Airlines |
DVL | 16:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1208
United Airlines |
SMF | 16:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA2769
United Airlines |
LAS | 16:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F91560
Frontier |
MSN | 16:03 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
B62882
Jetblue Airways |
FLL | 16:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2540
Southwest Airlines |
IND | 16:05 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | 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 |
KG4122
Denver Air Connection |
DEN | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL1825
Delta Air Lines |
MSP | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
SY9200
Sun Country Airlines |
MSP | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN8874
Southwest Airlines |
BWI | 16:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94344
Frontier Airlines |
XNA | 16:13 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1086
United Airlines |
YVR | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ351
Flexjet |
MTJ | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA4770
United Airlines |
GJT | 16:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4521
Southwest Airlines |
DAL | 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 |
UA5039
United Airlines |
LBF | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5294
United Airlines |
CPR | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5039
Skywest Airlines |
LBF | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN834
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA588
United Airlines |
IAH | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3355
Southwest Airlines |
MCI | 16:20 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
OO5042
Skywest Airlines |
HYS | 16:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5031
Skywest Airlines |
LAR | 16:20 Local | mitsubishi crj-200lr | Forecast |
UA5697
United Airlines |
ASE | 16:22 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA5114
United Airlines |
LBL | 16:22 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2060
Southwest Airlines |
SAT | 16:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F9690
Frontier |
DCA | 16:27 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G43080
Allegiant Air |
PIA | 16:27 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2981
UA5289
OO4789
KG5920
FI5299
WN8515
UA4214
KG117
ZW7216
AA3285
WN1892
WN4688
WN3352
F92349
WN2787
WN2218
DL767
KG4802
OO5270
UA5098
F91694
OO4964
WN433
WN4638
WN2137
WN1942
WN4540
WN4719
WN2993
WN2044
WN3824
UA6030
AS1374
OO5192
KG3307
WN802
UA5172
KG610
WN3961
WN2165
WN2117
KG507
UA6091
KG820
WN250
DL957
WN1416
WN3671
WN1107
UA1023
UA5195
OO6090
UA4771
KG361
WN1779
WN1459
WN4940
WN1962
WN3364
WN3662
KX441
UA3940
KG640
WN1792
VB721
OO1007
KG864
OO1002
UA5773
UA1899
WN3182
UA4776
UA489
B6394
WN840
UA5498
UA5546
UA5322
UA5057
WN4652
F91598
UA5251
UA2013
UA5265
UA1195
ZW7225
F92440
WN8879
KG4133
UA5469
KG495
OO6107
UA5817
WN4281
UA2633
UA421
WN1827
UA5643
UA2764
UA1281
UA536
OO5024
OO4770
UA182
OO5706
UA5978
OO5294
UA2439
OO6101
UA1805
F91864
OO5197
UA1208
UA2769
WN2540
KG593
LH481
OO5038
KG4122
DL1825
SY9200
WN8874
UA1086
UA4770
WN4521
KG704
F94794
UA5039
UA5294
OO5039
WN834
UA588
WN3355
OO5042
OO5031
UA5697
UA5114
WN2060