US
AIRPORT
SFO
WORLD RANK
#54

San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport

KSFO
900
Flights/Day
08:41
Local Time
Los Angeles
Timezone
13ft
Elevation
Flying from San Francisco?

Get turbulence forecasts for your upcoming flight

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Current Weather
Current Conditions
KSFO
VFR
15°C
Few Clouds 7kt 1018.00"
Observed: 14:56 UTC
VFR — Visual Flight Rules: Clear conditions, no weather delays expected.
Cloud Forecast
12k 8k 4k 0
05:00
CLR
07:00
CLR
13:00
CLR
22:00
CLR
About San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco's famous fog causes low-visibility delays but not turbulence. Strong onshore winds can make afternoon approaches bumpy.

Is San Francisco Airport turbulent?

SFO is notorious for fog delays rather than turbulence. The famous marine layer rolls in from the Pacific, reducing visibility and cutting landing capacity in half. SFO consistently ranks among America's most delayed airports because runway spacing from the 1940s cannot handle modern traffic volumes when fog forces single-runway operations.

  • SFO was 3rd most-delayed US airport in 2018 with 26% of arrivals delayed
  • Fog can cut landing capacity from 60 to 30 planes per hour
  • Runways built in 1940s are too close for simultaneous fog landings
Why does fog affect SFO so badly?

When visibility drops, aircraft cannot land side-by-side on SFO's closely-spaced runways. Capacity immediately halves. The FAA holds departures at origin airports rather than circling planes over the Bay. A persistent high-pressure ridge often traps fog in place for days. Morning fog typically lifts by midday, but delays cascade through the entire day.

When is the smoothest time to fly from SFO?

September and October typically offer the clearest conditions. Summer fog (June Gloom) is heaviest from June through August. Winter storms occasionally cause delays but are less persistent than fog. Afternoon flights are generally more reliable than morning departures during fog season.

Is turbulence at San Francisco 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 San Francisco?

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) 67
Flight Destination Departure Aircraft Forecast
AS656
Alaska Airlines
SEA 08:42 Local boeing 737-890 Forecast
WN4292
Southwest Airlines
+1 codeshare UA
SAN 08:50 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
UA1212
United Airlines
PVR 08:51 Local boeing 737-824 Forecast
F92678
Frontier (Lone Star The Longhorn Steer Livery)
ONT 08:53 Local airbus a320-251n Forecast
DL1421
Delta Air Lines
+1 codeshare UA
LAX 08:55 Local boeing 737-832 Forecast
UA1679
United Airlines
CUN 08:59 Local boeing 737 max 9 Forecast
UA487
United Airlines
OGG 09:00 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
UA1370
United Airlines
TPA 09:00 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
AS30
Alaska Airlines
+1 codeshare DL
JFK 09:00 Local boeing 737 max 9 Forecast
AS1481
Alaska Airlines
PDX 09:00 Local boeing 737-990(er) Forecast
1I193
Netjets Aviation
+1 codeshare AA
PHX 09:00 Local -- Forecast
UA1111
United Airlines
LIH 09:00 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
AS20
Alaska Airlines
+1 codeshare DL
JFK 09:00 Local boeing 737-990(er) Forecast
AS1344
Alaska Airlines
SJD 09:02 Local boeing 737-890 Forecast
AS476
Alaska Airlines
ZIH 09:02 Local boeing 737-890 Forecast
UA1721
United Airlines
KOA 09:05 Local boeing 757-324 Forecast
UA573
United Airlines
OGG 09:05 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
AS1417
Alaska Airlines
LTO 09:06 Local boeing 737-990(er) Forecast
UA2664
United Airlines
BWI 09:09 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
UA2128
United Airlines
TPA 09:10 Local boeing 737-924(er) Forecast
UA562
United Airlines
BZN 09:10 Local airbus a320-232 Forecast
AS3450
Alaska Airlines
SNA 09:13 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
AA1146
American Airlines
CLT 09:14 Local airbus a321-231 Forecast
AS8
Alaska Airlines
DCA 09:20 Local boeing 737-890 Forecast
UA1439
United Airlines
IAH 09:20 Local boeing 737 max 9 Forecast
OO5220
Skywest Airlines
SMF 09:20 Local mitsubishi crj-200lr Forecast
AS3333
Alaska Skywest
BUR 09:21 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA5681
United Express
SBP 09:22 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA1776
United Airlines
PSP 09:25 Local -- Forecast
WN2554
Southwest Airlines
+1 codeshare F9
LAS 09:25 Local boeing 737-7h4 Forecast
UA6028
United Express
ASE 09:25 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA6014
United Express
GEG 09:25 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
UA702
United Airlines
ATL 09:25 Local boeing 737-824 Forecast
UA5751
United Express
SUN 09:25 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
UA5560
United Express
TUS 09:25 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA5729
United Express
MSO 09:28 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
UA5704
United Express
MFR 09:30 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
WN310
Southwest Airlines
DEN 09:30 Local boeing 737-7h4 Forecast
UA5491
United Express
PSC 09:30 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA1175
United Airlines
HNL 09:30 Local boeing 777-322(er) Forecast
AS3490
Alaska Skywest
SAN 09:31 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
AS2218
Alaska Horizon
PAE 09:53 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA1273
United Airlines
BNA 09:57 Local boeing 737-824 Forecast
UA5482
United Airlines
ABQ 10:00 Local -- Forecast
AA1949
American Airlines
DFW 10:03 Local airbus a321-231 Forecast
WN2653
Southwest Airlines (Triple Crown Livery)
PHX 10:10 Local boeing 737-8h4 Forecast
WN3846
Southwest Airlines
LAS 10:10 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
AS3351
Alaska Skywest
PSP 10:13 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA875
United Airlines
HND 10:15 Local boeing 777-224(er) Forecast
F81847
Flair Airlines
YVR 10:15 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
DL976
Delta Air Lines
SEA 10:20 Local airbus a220-100 Forecast
AA6262
American Eagle
+2 codeshares UA WN
LAX 10:25 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA5479
United Express
MRY 10:29 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA4708
United Express
ACV 10:30 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA893
United Airlines
ICN 10:30 Local boeing 787-9 dreamliner Forecast
UA790
United Airlines
EUG 10:35 Local boeing 737-824 Forecast
UA5447
United Express
HDN 10:35 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
UA2153
United Airlines
RDM 10:35 Local boeing 737-824 Forecast
UA713
United Airlines
EWR 10:35 Local boeing 787-9 dreamliner Forecast
WN4433
Southwest Airlines
SAN 10:35 Local boeing 737-7h4 Forecast
AA16
American Airlines
JFK 10:35 Local airbus a321-231 Forecast
UA6001
United Express
MTY 10:35 Local embraer e175lr Forecast
AA711
American Airlines
+1 codeshare UA
ORD 10:36 Local boeing 737-823 Forecast
UA5293
United Express
MCI 10:38 Local embraer e175ll Forecast
UA2363
United Airlines
PDX 10:40 Local boeing 737-924(er) Forecast
SQ31
Singapore Airlines
SIN 10:40 Local airbus a350-941 Forecast
UA643
United Airlines
SNA 10:40 Local boeing 737 max 8 Forecast
08:42
Local
SFO SEA
AS AS656
boeing 737-890
08:50
Local
SFO SAN
WN WN4292 +1
boeing 737 max 8
08:51
Local
SFO PVR
UA UA1212
boeing 737-824
08:53
Local
SFO ONT
F9 F92678
airbus a320-251n
08:55
Local
SFO LAX
DL DL1421 +1
boeing 737-832
08:59
Local
SFO CUN
UA UA1679
boeing 737 max 9
09:00
Local
SFO OGG
UA UA487
boeing 737 max 8
09:00
Local
SFO TPA
UA UA1370
boeing 737 max 8
09:00
Local
SFO JFK
AS AS30 +1
boeing 737 max 9
09:00
Local
SFO PDX
AS AS1481
boeing 737-990(er)
09:00
Local
SFO PHX
1I193 +1
09:00
Local
SFO LIH
UA UA1111
boeing 737 max 8
09:00
Local
SFO JFK
AS AS20 +1
boeing 737-990(er)
09:02
Local
SFO SJD
AS AS1344
boeing 737-890
09:02
Local
SFO ZIH
AS AS476
boeing 737-890
09:05
Local
SFO KOA
UA UA1721
boeing 757-324
09:05
Local
SFO OGG
UA UA573
boeing 737 max 8
09:06
Local
SFO LTO
AS AS1417
boeing 737-990(er)
09:09
Local
SFO BWI
UA UA2664
boeing 737 max 8
09:10
Local
SFO TPA
UA UA2128
boeing 737-924(er)
09:10
Local
SFO BZN
UA UA562
airbus a320-232
09:13
Local
SFO SNA
AS AS3450
embraer e175lr
09:14
Local
SFO CLT
AA AA1146
airbus a321-231
09:20
Local
SFO DCA
AS AS8
boeing 737-890
09:20
Local
SFO IAH
UA UA1439
boeing 737 max 9
09:20
Local
SFO SMF
OO OO5220
mitsubishi crj-200lr
09:21
Local
SFO BUR
AS AS3333
embraer e175lr
09:22
Local
SFO SBP
UA UA5681
embraer e175lr
09:25
Local
SFO PSP
UA UA1776
09:25
Local
SFO LAS
WN WN2554 +1
boeing 737-7h4
09:25
Local
SFO ASE
UA UA6028
embraer e175lr
09:25
Local
SFO GEG
UA UA6014
embraer e175ll
09:25
Local
SFO ATL
UA UA702
boeing 737-824
09:25
Local
SFO SUN
UA UA5751
embraer e175ll
09:25
Local
SFO TUS
UA UA5560
embraer e175lr
09:28
Local
SFO MSO
UA UA5729
embraer e175ll
09:30
Local
SFO MFR
UA UA5704
embraer e175ll
09:30
Local
SFO DEN
WN WN310
boeing 737-7h4
09:30
Local
SFO PSC
UA UA5491
embraer e175lr
09:30
Local
SFO HNL
UA UA1175
boeing 777-322(er)
09:31
Local
SFO SAN
AS AS3490
embraer e175lr
09:53
Local
SFO PAE
AS AS2218
embraer e175lr
09:57
Local
SFO BNA
UA UA1273
boeing 737-824
10:00
Local
SFO ABQ
UA UA5482
10:03
Local
SFO DFW
AA AA1949
airbus a321-231
10:10
Local
SFO PHX
WN WN2653
boeing 737-8h4
10:10
Local
SFO LAS
WN WN3846
boeing 737 max 8
10:13
Local
SFO PSP
AS AS3351
embraer e175lr
10:15
Local
SFO HND
UA UA875
boeing 777-224(er)
10:15
Local
SFO YVR
F8 F81847
boeing 737 max 8
10:20
Local
SFO SEA
DL DL976
airbus a220-100
10:25
Local
SFO LAX
AA AA6262 +2
embraer e175lr
10:29
Local
SFO MRY
UA UA5479
embraer e175lr
10:30
Local
SFO ACV
UA UA4708
embraer e175lr
10:30
Local
SFO ICN
UA UA893
boeing 787-9 dreamliner
10:35
Local
SFO EUG
UA UA790
boeing 737-824
10:35
Local
SFO HDN
UA UA5447
embraer e175lr
10:35
Local
SFO RDM
UA UA2153
boeing 737-824
10:35
Local
SFO EWR
UA UA713
boeing 787-9 dreamliner
10:35
Local
SFO SAN
WN WN4433
boeing 737-7h4
10:35
Local
SFO JFK
AA AA16
airbus a321-231
10:35
Local
SFO MTY
UA UA6001
embraer e175lr
10:36
Local
SFO ORD
AA AA711 +1
boeing 737-823
10:38
Local
SFO MCI
UA UA5293
embraer e175ll
10:40
Local
SFO PDX
UA UA2363
boeing 737-924(er)
10:40
Local
SFO SIN
SQ SQ31
airbus a350-941
10:40
Local
SFO SNA
UA UA643
boeing 737 max 8