ZA
AIRPORT
JNB
WORLD RANK
#97

Johannesburg

O.R. Tambo International Airport

FAOR
424
Flights/Day
14:23
Local Time
Johannesburg
Timezone
5,558ft
Elevation
Flying from Johannesburg?

Get turbulence forecasts for your upcoming flight

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Current Weather
Current Conditions
FAOR
MVFR
19°C
Mostly Cloudy • 11kt • 1024.00"
Observed: 12:00 UTC
MVFR — Marginal Visual: Reduced visibility, minor delays possible.
Cloud Forecast Convective Activity
12k 8k 4k 0
08:00
2k
10:00 BECMG
2.5k
16:00 TEMPO
CLR
17:00 TEMPO
CLR
01:00
1k
02:00 TEMPO
0.5k
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 14:00 local time
About O.R. Tambo International Airport

Johannesburg's high altitude (5,558 ft) creates afternoon thermal turbulence. The Highveld location brings summer thunderstorms.

Is Johannesburg Airport turbulent?

Johannesburg's highveld location creates a predictable summer thunderstorm pattern. Hot afternoons trigger violent storms that roll across the plateau, producing heavy rain, lightning, and turbulence. These storms develop rapidly and can turn a sunny morning into a weather-delayed afternoon. Winter (May-August) is dry and offers much calmer flying conditions.

  • Summer afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily occurrences
  • Storms develop rapidly in the afternoon heat
  • Highveld elevation (1,700m) affects aircraft performance
What causes Johannesburg thunderstorms?

The highveld plateau heats up intensely during summer days, causing warm air to rise rapidly. When moisture is present, this triggers explosive thunderstorm development, typically between 2-6 PM. The storms can be violent but usually pass within an hour. The pattern is so predictable that experienced travelers book morning flights.

When is the best time to fly from Johannesburg?

Winter (May-August) is dry season with clear skies and minimal weather delays. Morning flights year-round avoid afternoon thunderstorm activity. Summer (October-April) brings daily storms, so depart before noon if possible. The shoulder seasons (April, September) offer pleasant weather with fewer storms than peak summer.

Is turbulence at Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?

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) 61
Flight Destination Departure Aircraft Forecast
FA262
Safair
DUR 14:25 Local -- Forecast
4Z168
South African Airlink
LUN 14:25 Local -- Forecast
FJW8340
Fastjet Zimbabwe
HRE 14:30 Local -- Forecast
ET808
Ethiopian Airlines
ADD 14:30 Local -- Forecast
5Z450
Cemair
GRJ 14:30 Local -- Forecast
FA846
Safair
BFN 14:30 Local -- Forecast
SA343
South African Airways
CPT 14:30 Local -- Forecast
FA111
Safair
CPT 14:35 Local -- Forecast
4Z106
South African Airlink
HRE 14:40 Local -- Forecast
5Z104
Cemair
BFN 14:40 Local -- Forecast
5Z856
Cemair
CPT 14:45 Local -- Forecast
QR8700
Qatar Airways
NBO 14:45 Local -- Forecast
5Z518
Cemair
KIM 14:45 Local -- Forecast
FA600
Safair
CPT 14:50 Local -- Forecast
FJW8334
Fastjet Zimbabwe
HRE 14:55 Local -- Forecast
5Z450
Cemair
GRJ 14:55 Local -- Forecast
SA52
South African Airways
ACC 14:55 Local -- Forecast
4Z62
South African Airlink
MSU 15:00 Local -- Forecast
FA382
Safair
ELS 15:00 Local -- Forecast
FA416
Safair
DUR 15:00 Local -- Forecast
4Z931
South African Airlink
CPT 15:05 Local -- Forecast
SA563
South African Airways
DUR 15:05 Local -- Forecast
SA60
South African Airways
LOS 15:10 Local airbus a330-343 Forecast
FA216
Flysafair
CPT 15:10 Local boeing 737-86n Forecast
4Z126
Airlink
WDH 15:15 Local embraer erj-135lr Forecast
SA347
South African Airways
CPT 15:15 Local -- Forecast
SA76
South African Airways
WDH 15:20 Local -- Forecast
4Z180
South African Airlink
GBE 15:25 Local -- Forecast
5Z108
Cemair
BFN 15:30 Local -- Forecast
5Z522
Cemair
KIM 15:30 Local -- Forecast
LA8059
Latam Airlines
GRU 15:30 Local -- Forecast
4Z126
South African Airlink
WDH 15:30 Local -- Forecast
4Z779
South African Airlink
SIS 15:30 Local -- Forecast
ET3858
Ethiopian Airlines
ADD 15:35 Local -- Forecast
FA228
Safair
GRJ 15:45 Local -- Forecast
ZN304
Zambia Airways
LUN 15:50 Local boeing 737-760 Forecast
4Z755
South African Airlink
UTT 15:50 Local -- Forecast
4Z845
South African Airlink
MQP 15:55 Local -- Forecast
4Z769
South African Airlink
UTN 15:55 Local -- Forecast
FA248
Safair
ELS 15:55 Local -- Forecast
5Z252
Cemair
PLZ 16:00 Local -- Forecast
FA288
Safair
DUR 16:00 Local -- Forecast
GE133
Global Aviation Operations
CPT 16:00 Local -- Forecast
W22016
Flexflight
DUR 16:00 Local -- Forecast
ZN304
Naysa
LUN 16:00 Local -- Forecast
SA419
South African Airways
PLZ 16:00 Local -- Forecast
FA252
Safair
GRJ 16:00 Local -- Forecast
4Z885
Airlink
RCB 16:00 Local embraer e170lr Forecast
4Z777
Airlink
SIS 16:00 Local embraer erj-135lr Forecast
FA802
Safair
CPT 16:05 Local -- Forecast
FA270
Safair
DUR 16:05 Local -- Forecast
4Z102
South African Airlink
HRE 16:10 Local -- Forecast
5Z332
Cemair
DUR 16:15 Local -- Forecast
5Z522
Cemair
KIM 16:15 Local -- Forecast
FN8664
Fastjet Zimbabwe
BUQ 16:15 Local embraer erj-145lr Forecast
4Z86
South African Airlink
SHO 16:20 Local -- Forecast
5Z252
Cemair
PLZ 16:20 Local -- Forecast
5Z110
Cemair
BFN 16:20 Local -- Forecast
WB108
Rwandair
HRE 16:20 Local -- Forecast
4Z815
South African Airlink
PTG 16:20 Local -- Forecast
FA214
Safair
CPT 16:20 Local -- Forecast
14:25
Local
JNB DUR
FA FA262
14:25
Local
JNB LUN
4Z168
14:30
Local
JNB HRE
FJW8340
14:30
Local
JNB ADD
ET ET808
14:30
Local
JNB GRJ
5Z450
14:30
Local
JNB BFN
FA FA846
14:30
Local
JNB CPT
SA SA343
14:35
Local
JNB CPT
FA FA111
14:40
Local
JNB HRE
4Z106
14:40
Local
JNB BFN
5Z104
14:45
Local
JNB CPT
5Z856
14:45
Local
JNB NBO
QR QR8700
14:45
Local
JNB KIM
5Z518
14:50
Local
JNB CPT
FA FA600
14:55
Local
JNB HRE
FJW8334
14:55
Local
JNB GRJ
5Z450
14:55
Local
JNB ACC
SA SA52
15:00
Local
JNB MSU
4Z62
15:00
Local
JNB ELS
FA FA382
15:00
Local
JNB DUR
FA FA416
15:05
Local
JNB CPT
4Z931
15:05
Local
JNB DUR
SA SA563
15:10
Local
JNB LOS
SA SA60
airbus a330-343
15:10
Local
JNB CPT
FA FA216
boeing 737-86n
15:15
Local
JNB WDH
4Z126
embraer erj-135lr
15:15
Local
JNB CPT
SA SA347
15:20
Local
JNB WDH
SA SA76
15:25
Local
JNB GBE
4Z180
15:30
Local
JNB BFN
5Z108
15:30
Local
JNB KIM
5Z522
15:30
Local
JNB GRU
LA LA8059
15:30
Local
JNB WDH
4Z126
15:30
Local
JNB SIS
4Z779
15:35
Local
JNB ADD
ET ET3858
15:45
Local
JNB GRJ
FA FA228
15:50
Local
JNB LUN
ZN ZN304
boeing 737-760
15:50
Local
JNB UTT
4Z755
15:55
Local
JNB MQP
4Z845
15:55
Local
JNB UTN
4Z769
15:55
Local
JNB ELS
FA FA248
16:00
Local
JNB PLZ
5Z252
16:00
Local
JNB DUR
FA FA288
16:00
Local
JNB CPT
GE GE133
16:00
Local
JNB DUR
W22016
16:00
Local
JNB LUN
ZN ZN304
16:00
Local
JNB PLZ
SA SA419
16:00
Local
JNB GRJ
FA FA252
16:00
Local
JNB RCB
4Z885
embraer e170lr
16:00
Local
JNB SIS
4Z 4Z777
embraer erj-135lr
16:05
Local
JNB CPT
FA FA802
16:05
Local
JNB DUR
FA FA270
16:10
Local
JNB HRE
4Z102
16:15
Local
JNB DUR
5Z332
16:15
Local
JNB KIM
5Z522
16:15
Local
JNB BUQ
FN FN8664
embraer erj-145lr
16:20
Local
JNB SHO
4Z86
16:20
Local
JNB PLZ
5Z252
16:20
Local
JNB BFN
5Z110
16:20
Local
JNB HRE
WB WB108
16:20
Local
JNB PTG
4Z815
16:20
Local
JNB CPT
FA FA214
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