Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport
ZBAACurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast
About Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing's main concern is spring sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March-April). Otherwise, flying conditions are generally calm.
Is Beijing Capital Airport turbulent?
Beijing's primary weather challenge is spring sandstorms that blow in from the Gobi Desert. These massive dust clouds can turn the sky orange and reduce visibility to near zero, grounding hundreds of flights. The storms occur mainly in March and April when strong Mongolian winds kick up desert dust. Outside of sandstorm season, Beijing enjoys relatively calm flying conditions.
- April 2025 sandstorms cancelled 693 flights in a single day
- Beijing recorded its strongest winds in 75 years during recent storms
- Sandstorm frequency has decreased from 26 days (1950s) to 3 days (2010) due to tree planting
What causes Beijing's sandstorms?
Strong northwesterly winds from Mongolia lift sand and dust from the Gobi Desert and carry it across northern China. Deforestation in the 20th century worsened the problem by removing natural barriers. China's massive Three-North Shelter Forest project, planting trees on 35 million hectares since 1978, has significantly reduced storm frequency and severity, though major events still occur.
When is the best time to fly through Beijing?
May through October offers the most reliable conditions, with autumn (September-October) being particularly pleasant. Avoid March and April when sandstorm risk peaks. Winter brings cold but generally clear weather, though occasional cold fronts from Siberia can cause gusty conditions. Summer monsoon storms are milder here than in southern China.
Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 67
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CA1651
Air China |
SHE | 08:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7189
Hainan Airlines |
KWE | 08:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
NX7
Air Macau |
MFM | 08:25 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
|
3U6880
Sichuan Airlines |
TFU | 08:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA185
Air China |
TPE | 08:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU6009
Hainan Airlines |
HLD | 08:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7801
Hainan Airlines |
CAN | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1905
Air China |
ZUH | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1839
Air China |
NGB | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA129
Air China |
PUS | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1537
Air China |
KHN | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1389
Air China |
CSX | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7079
Hainan Airlines |
SYX | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1421
Air China |
CTU | 08:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1147
Air China |
RLK | 08:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA927
Air China |
KIX | 08:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA123
Air China |
ICN | 08:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1239
Air China |
LHW | 08:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7603
Hainan Airlines |
SHA | 08:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA901
Air China |
UBN | 08:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1429
Air China |
CKG | 08:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
AH3061
Air Algerie |
ALG | 08:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7195
Hainan Airlines |
FOC | 08:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
SQ805
Singapore Airlines |
SIN | 08:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1289
Air China |
XIY | 08:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
ZH9151
Shenzhen Airlines |
XFN | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1367
Air China |
SZX | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1489
Air China |
DZH | 09:00 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1567
Air China |
WNZ | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1575
Air China |
TAO | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1923
Air China |
WDS | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA741
Air China |
HAN | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CN7159
Grand China Air |
JIU | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
GA14
Garuda Indonesia |
SUB | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7482
Hainan Airlines |
HAK | 09:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1885
Air China |
JNH | 09:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1901
Air China |
URC | 09:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1951
Air China |
LZH | 09:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1281
Air China |
INC | 09:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1311
Air China |
NNG | 09:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
HX305
Hong Kong Airlines |
HKG | 09:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1433
Air China |
KWE | 09:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7179
Hainan Airlines |
SYX | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1519
Air China |
SHA | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1415
Air China |
CTU | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7803
Hainan Airlines |
CAN | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
OM224
Miat Mongolian Airlines |
UBN | 09:30 Local | boeing 737-8al | Forecast |
CA1809
Air China |
XMN | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1708
Air China |
HGH | 09:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1605
Air China |
DLC | 09:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
QE108
Qatar Executive |
PER | 09:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
SC4642
Shandong Airlines |
TAO | 09:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA133
Air China |
HND | 09:55 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA1955
Air China |
WGN | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1399
Air China |
CSX | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA137
Air China |
GMP | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
SC2209
Shandong Airlines |
FOC | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1627
Air China |
CGQ | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA889
Air China |
SIN | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
SC7604
Shandong Airlines |
YNT | 09:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA8204
Air China |
WUH | 10:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1383
Air China |
SZX | 10:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU6015
Hainan Airlines |
KHN | 10:00 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA3197
Air China |
LAX | 10:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CX347
Cathay Pacific |
HKG | 10:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1058
Air China |
PVG | 10:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1207
Air China |
LHW | 10:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1651
HU7189
NX7
CA185
HU6009
HU7801
CA1905
CA1839
CA129
CA1537
CA1389
HU7079
CA1421
CA1147
CA927
CA123
CA1239
HU7603
CA901
CA1429
AH3061
HU7195
SQ805
CA1289
ZH9151
CA1367
CA1489
CA1567
CA1575
CA1923
CA741
CN7159
GA14
HU7482
CA1885
CA1901
CA1951
CA1281
CA1311
HX305
CA1433
HU7179
CA1519
CA1415
HU7803
OM224
CA1809
CA1708
CA1605
SC4642
CA133
CA1955
CA1399
CA137
SC2209
CA1627
CA889
SC7604
CA8204
CA1383
HU6015
CA3197
CX347
CA1058
CA1207