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) 65
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CA107
Air China |
HKG | 18:25 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA4104
Air China |
CTU | 18:30 Local | a21n | Forecast |
CA1726
Air China |
HGH | 18:30 Local | a319 | Forecast |
KE852
Korean Air |
ICN | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
MU5162
China Eastern (Shanghai Disney Resort Livery) |
SHA | 18:30 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
CA1539
Air China |
WNZ | 18:30 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
MU7106
China Eastern Airlines |
XIY | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1571
Air China |
TAO | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CX393
Cathay Pacific |
HKG | 18:35 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA9625
Air China Ltd |
DQA | 18:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA9619
Air China |
HLD | 18:45 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
HU7717
Hainan Airlines |
WUA | 18:55 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
HU6567
Hainan Airlines |
CKG | 18:55 Local | boeing 787-9 dreamliner | Forecast |
HU7995
Hainan Airlines |
BKK | 18:55 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
CA745
Air China |
KTI | 18:55 Local | airbus a321-251nx | Forecast |
CA9631
Air China |
NDG | 18:55 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
HU7579
Hainan Airlines |
SYX | 19:00 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
SC7610
Shandong Airlines |
YNT | 19:00 Local | boeing 737-85n | Forecast |
HU7082
Hainan Airlines |
HAK | 19:00 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
CA8224
Air China |
LFQ | 19:00 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
CA1927
Air China Ltd |
CSX | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1615
Air China |
YNJ | 19:05 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA179
Air China |
MNL | 19:05 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA1881
Air China Ltd |
HYN | 19:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1635
Air China |
SHE | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
HU7645
Hainan Airlines |
LYI | 19:15 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA8902
Air China |
DLC | 19:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
ZH9108
Shenzhen Airlines |
SZX | 19:15 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA1379
Air China |
CAN | 19:15 Local | boeing 777-39l(er) | Forecast |
CN7669
Grand China Air |
INC | 19:15 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA1641
Air China |
HRB | 19:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
CX337
Cathay Pacific |
HKG | 19:30 Local | airbus a321-251nx | Forecast |
CA4110
Air China |
CTU | 19:30 Local | airbus a330-243 | Forecast |
CA1581
Air China |
KHN | 19:30 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
MU5164
China Eastern Airlines |
PVG | 19:30 Local | airbus a321-251nx | Forecast |
CA1728
Air China |
HGH | 19:30 Local | a319 | Forecast |
CA9711
Air China Ltd |
YCU | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1349
Air China |
CSX | 19:30 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
CA4144
Air China |
CKG | 19:30 Local | boeing 737-79l | Forecast |
CA1123
Air China |
TGO | 19:30 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1563
Air China |
SHA | 19:30 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
NX9
Air Macau |
MFM | 19:35 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
CA1931
Air China |
NNG | 19:35 Local | airbus a321-252nx | Forecast |
3U8896
Sichuan Airlines |
CTU | 19:40 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
CA8214
Air China |
WUH | 19:45 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
HU7297
Hainan Airlines |
LHW | 19:45 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
BR715
Eva Air |
TPE | 19:55 Local | airbus a330-302 | Forecast |
CA1597
Air China |
WEH | 19:55 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
HU7282
Hainan Airlines |
HAK | 20:00 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA1111
Air China |
HET | 20:00 Local | comac arj-21-700 | Forecast |
CA981
Air China |
JFK | 20:00 Local | boeing 747-89l | Forecast |
CA1693
Air China |
JMU | 20:00 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA1849
Air China |
NGB | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1307
Air China |
SZX | 20:00 Local | boeing 777-39l(er) | Forecast |
CA979
Air China (Star Alliance Livery) |
BKK | 20:00 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA1295
Air China |
URC | 20:05 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
AC30
Air Canada |
YVR | 20:05 Local | boeing 787-9 dreamliner | Forecast |
CA1653
Air China |
CGQ | 20:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1121
Air China |
BAV | 20:15 Local | comac arj-21-700 | Forecast |
CA1525
Air China |
TAO | 20:15 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA1205
Air China (Phoenix Livery) |
XIY | 20:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1217
Air China |
INC | 20:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
3U6878
Sichuan Airlines (熊猫之路 Panda Route Livery) |
TFU | 20:15 Local | airbus a350-941 | Forecast |
CA1593
Air China |
YNT | 20:15 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
CA1801
Air China |
XMN | 20:20 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA107
CA4104
CA1726
KE852
MU5162
CA1539
MU7106
CA1571
CX393
CA9625
CA9619
HU7717
HU6567
HU7995
CA745
CA9631
HU7579
SC7610
HU7082
CA8224
CA1927
CA1615
CA179
CA1881
CA1635
HU7645
CA8902
ZH9108
CA1379
CN7669
CA1641
CX337
CA4110
CA1581
MU5164
CA1728
CA9711
CA1349
CA4144
CA1123
CA1563
NX9
CA1931
3U8896
CA8214
HU7297
BR715
CA1597
HU7282
CA1111
CA981
CA1693
CA1849
CA1307
CA979
CA1295
AC30
CA1653
CA1121
CA1525
CA1205
CA1217
3U6878
CA1593
CA1801