Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City International Airport
KSLCCurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast
About Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City experiences mountain wave turbulence from Wasatch Range. Winter inversions create fog in the valley.
Is Salt Lake City Airport turbulent?
Salt Lake City sits in a valley surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains, creating mountain wave turbulence when winds are strong. The stable atmospheric layer between 12,000-18,000 feet is critical for wave formation. Winter brings snow and de-icing delays, while summer afternoon thunderstorms occasionally affect operations.
- Wasatch Mountains create mountain wave turbulence
- Stable layer at 12,000-18,000 feet critical for wave generation
- Winter brings significant snow requiring de-icing operations
How do the mountains affect Salt Lake City flights?
When strong winds blow perpendicular to the Wasatch Range, mountain waves form on the downwind side. These invisible oscillations can cause significant turbulence at altitude. Pilots familiar with the area know to expect bumps when conditions align. The effect is most pronounced during winter and spring when the jet stream passes over Utah.
When is the best time to fly from Salt Lake City?
Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) offer the most stable conditions. Winter brings snow and occasional mountain wave activity. Summer afternoons can see thunderstorms develop over the mountains. Morning flights generally face fewer weather challenges year-round.
Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 61
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OO4771
Skywest Airlines |
JAC | 19:16 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5A160
Alpine Air Express |
PAE | 19:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4304
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 19:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I280
Netjets Aviation |
APC | 19:21 Local | -- | Forecast |
FX716
Fedex |
LAX | 19:27 Local | boeing 767-300f | Forecast |
AA1012
American Airlines |
OKC | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO1010
Skywest Airlines |
SWO | 19:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I506
Netjets Aviation |
OGD | 19:36 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LXJ519
Flexjet |
VNY | 19:37 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA6277
American Eagle |
LAX | 19:45 Local | embraer e175lr | Forecast |
|
F93220
Frontier Airlines |
DEN | 19:49 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL2081
Delta Air Lines |
SNA | 19:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
FX1230
Fedex |
MEM | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I492
Netjets Aviation |
HOU | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I592
Netjets Aviation |
QSD | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL8836
Delta Air Lines |
ATL | 20:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
F94236
Frontier (Adams The Green Salamander Livery) |
DEN | 20:01 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
FX1661
Fedex |
IND | 20:01 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F93393
Frontier Airlines |
SFO | 20:02 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO9791
Skywest Airlines |
SEA | 20:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4300
Southwest Airlines |
LGB | 20:10 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1907
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3703
Delta Air Lines |
OKC | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4054
Delta Air Lines |
TUS | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4627
Delta Air Lines |
BOI | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA9910
American Airlines |
LAX | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL1173
Delta Air Lines |
MSP | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F99802
Frontier Airlines |
PHX | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3706
Delta Air Lines |
OMA | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4625
Delta Air Lines |
SBA | 20:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94695
Frontier Airlines |
LAS | 20:32 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5X843
Ups Airlines |
SDF | 20:32 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3788
Delta Air Lines |
COS | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4045
Delta Air Lines |
PSP | 20:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1137
Southwest Airlines |
AUS | 20:35 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
|
5X841
Ups Airlines |
ONT | 20:36 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4297
Southwest Airlines |
LAS | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
AS719
Alaska Airlines |
SEA | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3729
Delta Air Lines |
ABQ | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3774
Delta Air Lines |
FAT | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL2666
Delta Air Lines |
STL | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3985
Delta Air Lines |
SUN | 20:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3670
Delta Air Lines |
LGB | 20:42 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL2797
Delta Air Lines |
SAT | 20:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4006
Delta Connection |
TUL | 20:45 Local | embraer e175lr | Forecast |
OO3845
Skywest Airlines |
GTF | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4234
Delta Air Lines |
GJT | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
USC270
Airnet |
APA | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4619
Delta Air Lines |
BIL | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL4113
Delta Air Lines |
YYC | 20:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I690
Netjets Aviation |
OGD | 20:52 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4312
Southwest Airlines |
SMF | 20:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL2155
Delta Air Lines |
DEN | 20:55 Local | airbus a319-114 | Forecast |
GB2040
Abx Air |
CVG | 20:59 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I200
Netjets Aviation |
BOS | 21:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL2275
Delta Air Lines |
BZN | 21:00 Local | boeing 737-932(er) | Forecast |
DL3839
Delta Air Lines |
HLN | 21:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL3719
Delta Air Lines |
YVR | 21:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
FX1804
Fedex |
RNO | 21:04 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL9769
Delta Air Lines |
LAX | 21:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2102
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 21:05 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
OO4771
WN4304
FX716
AA1012
OO1010
AA6277
DL2081
FX1230
DL8836
F94236
FX1661
OO9791
WN4300
WN1907
DL3703
DL4054
DL4627
AA9910
DL1173
DL3706
DL4625
DL3788
DL4045
WN1137
WN4297
AS719
DL3729
DL3774
DL2666
DL3985
DL3670
DL2797
DL4006
OO3845
DL4234
DL4619
DL4113
WN4312
DL2155
GB2040
DL2275
DL3839
DL3719
FX1804
DL9769
WN2102