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AIRPORT
DTW
WORLD RANK
#93

Detroit

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

KDTW
500
Flights/Day
04:38
Local Time
Detroit
Timezone
645ft
Elevation
Flying from Detroit?

Get turbulence forecasts for your upcoming flight

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Current Weather
Current Conditions
KDTW
VFR
22°C
Mostly Cloudy • 7kt • 8mi • 1011.90"
Observed: 07:53 UTC
VFR — Visual Flight Rules: Clear conditions, no weather delays expected.
Cloud Forecast Convective Activity
12k 8k 4k 0
02:00
CLR
03:00
20k
11:00
5k
13:00 TEMPO
3k
17:00
6k
21:00
20k
Few (1-2 oktas) Scattered (3-4) Broken (5-7) Overcast (8) CB (storm) | CLR = Clear 25k = 25,000 ft ceiling
FM = From (abrupt change) BECMG = Becoming (gradual) TEMPO = Temporary PROB = Probability %
TAF valid until 08:00 local time
About Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Detroit experiences Great Lakes weather effects and typical Midwest thunderstorm patterns. Winter brings lake-effect snow and gusty winds.

Is Detroit Airport turbulent?

Detroit's location near the Great Lakes creates classic lake-effect snow challenges. Arctic air flowing across warmer lake waters can dump feet of snow on the airport while areas just miles away stay clear. Winter storms bring heavy snow, gusty crosswinds, and extensive de-icing operations that cause delays.

  • Recent winter storm caused 300+ delays and 40+ cancellations
  • Lake-effect snow produces intense, localized snowfall
  • Crosswinds during storms force runway reconfigurations
What is lake-effect snow?

When cold Arctic air flows across the relatively warm Great Lakes, it picks up moisture and dumps intense snow on downwind areas. Detroit can receive heavy snow bands while nearby areas stay clear. These events are notoriously difficult to predict precisely and can develop rapidly, creating sudden operational challenges.

When is the best time to fly from Detroit?

Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) offer the most reliable conditions. Winter lake-effect snow season runs December through March. Summer is generally good but afternoon thunderstorms occasionally cause delays. Build extra connection time during winter travel.

Is turbulence at Detroit dangerous?

No. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand forces far stronger than turbulence. While bumps can feel uncomfortable, they do not pose a safety risk. Pilots actively avoid rough air whenever possible. Learn more about turbulence

Best seats to reduce turbulence when flying from Detroit?

Seats near the wings feel the least movement because they are closest to the aircraft's center of gravity. Seats at the back of the aircraft feel turbulence more strongly. Learn more about seat selection

Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 27
Flight Destination Departure Aircraft Forecast
UA3750
United Airlines
LAX 04:56 Local -- Forecast
DL9966
Delta Air Lines
+1 codeshare DL
ATL 05:00 Local -- Forecast
DL9961
Delta Air Lines
MSP 05:00 Local -- Forecast
NK1006
Spirit Airlines
DFW 05:00 Local -- Forecast
AA3387
American Eagle
ORD 05:00 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
NK2060
Spirit Airlines
MCO 05:05 Local airbus a320-232 Forecast
NK2080
Spirit Airlines
MIA 05:20 Local airbus a320-232 Forecast
WN3027
Southwest Airlines
+1 codeshare WN
BWI 05:30 Local boeing 737-7h4 Forecast
WN1778
Southwest Airlines
DEN 05:30 Local -- Forecast
AA1108
American Airlines
DFW 05:37 Local -- Forecast
AA5493
American Eagle
+1 codeshare AA
PHL 05:40 Local mitsubishi crj-900lr Forecast
NK260
Spirit Airlines
FLL 05:45 Local airbus a321-231 Forecast
AA3397
American Eagle
+2 codeshares AA UA
ORD 05:45 Local embraer e170se Forecast
UA4074
United Express
+1 codeshare UA
IAD 06:00 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
DL814
Delta Air Lines
SEA 06:00 Local -- Forecast
AA387
American Airlines
CLT 06:00 Local -- Forecast
DL433
Delta Air Lines
RSW 06:00 Local airbus a321-211 Forecast
AA5444
American Eagle
DCA 06:00 Local mitsubishi crj-701er Forecast
WN1351
Southwest Airlines
+1 codeshare WN
BNA 06:00 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
AA1020
American Airlines
MIA 06:05 Local -- Forecast
B6720
Jetblue
JFK 06:10 Local -- Forecast
DL1709
Delta Air Lines
MCO 06:15 Local airbus a321-271nx Forecast
UA1114
United Airlines
IAH 06:15 Local -- Forecast
DL1611
Delta Air Lines
ATL 06:17 Local -- Forecast
1I400
Netjets
PVD 06:30 Local -- Forecast
DL9755
Delta Air Lines
LAX 06:30 Local -- Forecast
WN884
Southwest Airlines
DEN 06:35 Local -- Forecast
04:56
Local
DTW LAX
UA UA3750
05:00
Local
DTW ATL
DL DL9966 +1
05:00
Local
DTW MSP
DL DL9961
05:00
Local
DTW DFW
NK NK1006
05:00
Local
DTW ORD
AA AA3387
embraer e175lr
05:05
Local
DTW MCO
NK NK2060
airbus a320-232
05:20
Local
DTW MIA
NK NK2080
airbus a320-232
05:30
Local
DTW BWI
WN WN3027 +1
boeing 737-7h4
05:30
Local
DTW DEN
WN WN1778
05:37
Local
DTW DFW
AA AA1108
05:40
Local
DTW PHL
AA AA5493 +1
mitsubishi crj-900lr
05:45
Local
DTW FLL
NK NK260
airbus a321-231
05:45
Local
DTW ORD
AA AA3397 +2
embraer e170se
06:00
Local
DTW IAD
UA UA4074 +1
embraer e175ll
06:00
Local
DTW SEA
DL DL814
06:00
Local
DTW CLT
AA AA387
06:00
Local
DTW RSW
DL DL433
airbus a321-211
06:00
Local
DTW DCA
AA AA5444
mitsubishi crj-701er
06:00
Local
DTW BNA
WN WN1351 +1
boeing 737 max 8
06:05
Local
DTW MIA
AA AA1020
06:10
Local
DTW JFK
B6720
06:15
Local
DTW MCO
DL DL1709
airbus a321-271nx
06:15
Local
DTW IAH
UA UA1114
06:17
Local
DTW ATL
DL DL1611
06:30
Local
DTW PVD
1I400
06:30
Local
DTW LAX
DL DL9755
06:35
Local
DTW DEN
WN WN884
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