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) 57
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HU7297
Hainan Airlines |
LHW | 19:45 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA8214
Air China |
WUH | 19:45 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
BR715
Eva Air |
TPE | 19:55 Local | airbus a330-302 | Forecast |
CA1597
Air China |
WEH | 19:55 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
CA1849
Air China |
NGB | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
CA1111
Air China |
HET | 20:00 Local | comac arj-21-700 | Forecast |
CA1693
Air China |
JMU | 20:00 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA979
Air China (Star Alliance Livery) |
BKK | 20:00 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA981
Air China |
JFK | 20:00 Local | boeing 747-89l | Forecast |
HU7282
Hainan Airlines |
HAK | 20:00 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
CA1307
Air China |
SZX | 20:00 Local | boeing 777-39l(er) | 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 |
CA1593
Air China |
YNT | 20:15 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | 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 |
CA1653
Air China |
CGQ | 20:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1525
Air China |
TAO | 20:15 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA1121
Air China |
BAV | 20:15 Local | comac arj-21-700 | Forecast |
CA1205
Air China (Phoenix Livery) |
XIY | 20:15 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1801
Air China |
XMN | 20:20 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CI518
China Airlines |
TPE | 20:25 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
HU7609
Hainan Airlines |
SHA | 20:25 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA4106
Air China |
CTU | 20:30 Local | airbus a321-272nx | Forecast |
CA4136
Air China |
CKG | 20:30 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
HU7815
Hainan Airlines |
CAN | 20:30 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
HU7193
Hainan Airlines |
HUO | 20:30 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
ZH9189
Shenzhen Airlines |
JJN | 20:30 Local | airbus a320-232 | Forecast |
CA1730
Air China |
HGH | 20:35 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
CA1819
Air China |
NKG | 20:40 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1845
Air China |
HFE | 20:40 Local | boeing 737-79l | Forecast |
CA903
Air China |
SGN | 20:40 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1639
Air China |
HRB | 20:45 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
HX313
Hong Kong Airlines |
HKG | 20:45 Local | airbus a320-232 | Forecast |
CA1601
Air China |
SHE | 20:45 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
ZH9110
Shenzhen Airlines |
SZX | 21:00 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
SC7608
Shandong Airlines |
YNT | 21:00 Local | boeing 737-85n | Forecast |
CA1883
Air China |
PVG | 21:00 Local | airbus a350-941 | Forecast |
MU5128
China Eastern Airlines |
SHA | 21:00 Local | airbus a330-343 | Forecast |
CA4166
Air China |
KWE | 21:05 Local | airbus a320-271n | Forecast |
CA1853
Air China |
NGB | 21:05 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1821
Air China |
FOC | 21:05 Local | airbus a321-252nx | Forecast |
CA1573
Air China |
WNZ | 21:05 Local | airbus a321-232 | Forecast |
ZH9161
Shenzhen Airlines |
WUX | 21:05 Local | boeing 737-87l | Forecast |
CA1915
Air China |
CGO | 21:10 Local | airbus a321-251nx | Forecast |
CA8216
Air China |
WUH | 21:10 Local | airbus a320-214 | Forecast |
HU7377
Hainan Airlines |
HGH | 21:15 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
HU7535
Hainan Airlines |
CSX | 21:15 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
HU7125
Hainan Airlines |
DOY | 21:15 Local | boeing 737-84p | Forecast |
3U8834
Sichuan Airlines |
CKG | 21:20 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
CA4174
Air China |
KMG | 21:20 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
SC4656
Shandong Airlines |
TAO | 21:25 Local | boeing 737-85n | Forecast |
ZH9171
Shenzhen Airlines |
NTG | 21:30 Local | boeing 737-8al | Forecast |
SC2128
Shandong Airlines (Deej Livery) |
XMN | 21:30 Local | boeing 737-85n | Forecast |
LD769
Air Hong Kong |
HKG | 21:30 Local | airbus a330-343(p2f) | Forecast |
CA8908
Air China |
DLC | 21:35 Local | boeing 737-89l | Forecast |
CA1385
Air China |
CAN | 21:35 Local | airbus a321-213 | Forecast |
HU7297
CA8214
BR715
CA1597
CA1849
CA1111
CA1693
CA979
CA981
HU7282
CA1307
CA1295
AC30
CA1593
CA1217
3U6878
CA1653
CA1525
CA1121
CA1205
CA1801
CI518
HU7609
CA4106
CA4136
HU7815
HU7193
ZH9189
CA1730
CA1819
CA1845
CA903
CA1639
HX313
CA1601
ZH9110
SC7608
CA1883
MU5128
CA4166
CA1853
CA1821
CA1573
ZH9161
CA1915
CA8216
HU7377
HU7535
HU7125
3U8834
CA4174
SC4656
ZH9171
SC2128
LD769
CA8908
CA1385