Denver
Denver International Airport
KDENCurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast
About Denver International Airport
Denver experiences frequent mountain wave turbulence from Rocky Mountain winds. Consistently ranked among America's bumpiest airports.
Is Denver International Airport turbulent?
Denver is consistently ranked among the most turbulent airports in America due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Mountain wave turbulence occurs when high-speed winds pass over the peaks and create powerful oscillating air currents on the eastern side. The airport experiences frequent bumpy approaches and departures, particularly when winds blow from the west.
- Four of the top five bumpiest US routes involve Denver
- Mountain waves can extend 100+ miles from the Rockies
- Microbursts from dry thunderstorms are common in summer
What causes mountain wave turbulence at Denver?
When winds exceed 25 knots and blow perpendicular to the Rocky Mountain ridgeline, air accelerates up and over the peaks, then plunges down the eastern slopes in powerful waves. These invisible ripples in the atmosphere can toss aircraft around unpredictably. Pilots describe it as hitting invisible speed bumps at altitude. The effect is strongest in winter and early spring when the jet stream passes over Colorado.
When is the smoothest time to fly from Denver?
Early morning flights before 9 AM typically offer calmer conditions before thermal activity begins. Summer afternoons are especially rough due to microbursts and wind shear along the Front Range. Late September through early November often provides a window of calmer weather between summer storms and winter jet stream patterns.
Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 57
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WN1592
Southwest Airlines (Lone Star One Livery) |
MIA | 05:30 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
DL2544
Delta Air Lines |
SLC | 05:30 Local | airbus a220-100 | Forecast |
WN2543
Southwest Airlines |
LAS | 05:35 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
F92098
Frontier (Blanco The Polar Bear Livery) |
SAT | 05:45 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
5X9763
Ups |
ONT | 05:45 Local | boeing 767-34af(er) | Forecast |
DL341
Delta Air Lines |
ATL | 05:45 Local | airbus a321-211 | Forecast |
WN4600
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 05:50 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN2613
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 05:55 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
UA1279
United Airlines |
IAD | 06:00 Local | boeing 737 max 9 | Forecast |
F91150
Frontier (Adams The Green Salamander Livery) |
MSP | 06:00 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
F91752
Frontier (Stewart The Red Billed Streamertail Live |
CVG | 06:00 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
F93566
Frontier (Sonny The Lemon Shark Livery) |
DTW | 06:00 Local | airbus a320-271n | Forecast |
F94646
Frontier (Finn The Oceanic Whitetip Shark Livery) |
MCO | 06:00 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
WN2366
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 06:00 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
UA2345
United Airlines |
EWR | 06:00 Local | boeing 737 max 9 | Forecast |
UA1377
United Airlines |
ORD | 06:00 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
F972
Frontier (Wilhelm The Steller's Eider Livery) |
CUN | 06:10 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
WN2572
Southwest Airlines |
LGA | 06:10 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
KG414
Key Lime Air |
LBF | 06:15 Local | fairchild swearingen metro iii | Forecast |
UA788
United Airlines |
IAH | 06:17 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
WN3212
Southwest Airlines |
BWI | 06:20 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
KG356
Key Lime Air |
CYS | 06:30 Local | fairchild swearingen metro iii | Forecast |
|
5A1828
Alpine Air Express |
CPR | 06:30 Local | beech 1900c | Forecast |
|
5A1842
Alpine Air Express |
SLT | 06:30 Local | beech 1900c | Forecast |
|
5A1856
Alpine Air Express |
HDN | 06:30 Local | beech 1900c | Forecast |
|
CH1806
Bemidji Aviation |
TAD | 06:30 Local | beech u-8f seminole | Forecast |
DL1731
Delta Air Lines |
SEA | 06:30 Local | airbus a220-300 | Forecast |
DL3697
Delta Connection |
LAX | 06:30 Local | embraer e175ll | Forecast |
F91375
Frontier (Joe Bob The Badger Livery) |
PHX | 06:30 Local | a20n | Forecast |
F93861
Frontier (Harper The American Alligator Livery) |
SLC | 06:30 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
KG183
Key Lime Air |
GJT | 06:30 Local | embraer emb-120er brasilia | Forecast |
KG292
Key Lime Air |
MTJ | 06:30 Local | fairchild swearingen metro iii | Forecast |
|
5A1814
Alpine Air Express |
COS | 06:30 Local | beech 1900d | Forecast |
KG593
Key Lime Air |
BFF | 06:30 Local | fairchild swearingen metro iii | Forecast |
KG640
Key Lime Air |
RIW | 06:30 Local | fairchild swearingen metro iii | Forecast |
WN3131
Southwest Airlines |
SAN | 06:30 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
AA1623
American Airlines |
CLT | 06:39 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
DL336
Delta Air Lines |
JFK | 06:40 Local | airbus a321-271nx | Forecast |
F9686
Frontier (Joey The Opossum Livery) |
DCA | 06:40 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
WN2201
Southwest Airlines |
LAS | 06:40 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN2651
Southwest Airlines |
DAL | 06:45 Local | boeing 737-8h4 | Forecast |
WN1409
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 06:50 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
WN4642
Southwest Airlines |
TPA | 07:00 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
5X2805
Ups |
ONT | 07:00 Local | boeing 767-300f | Forecast |
|
5A1876
Alpine Air Express |
EGE | 07:00 Local | beech 1900c | Forecast |
|
CH1702
Bemidji Aviation |
PUB | 07:00 Local | beech u-8f seminole | Forecast |
|
CH1694
Bemidji Aviation |
LBF | 07:00 Local | beech c99 airliner | Forecast |
WN1465
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 07:00 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
AA2986
American Airlines |
MIA | 07:01 Local | boeing 737 max 8 | Forecast |
AA2672
American Airlines |
PHL | 07:05 Local | airbus a321-231 | Forecast |
DL431
Delta Air Lines |
ATL | 07:05 Local | airbus a321-211 | Forecast |
DL940
Delta Air Lines |
LGA | 07:05 Local | airbus a220-300 | Forecast |
F968
Frontier (Colorado The Bighorn Sheep Livery) |
PVR | 07:10 Local | airbus a320-251n | Forecast |
WN285
Southwest Airlines |
PHX | 07:15 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
5X2843
Ups |
SDF | 07:15 Local | boeing 757-24apf | Forecast |
FX853
Fedex |
MEM | 07:19 Local | boeing 767-3s2f | Forecast |
AS220
Alaska Airlines |
SAN | 07:25 Local | boeing 737 max 9 | Forecast |
WN1592
DL2544
WN2543
F92098
5X9763
DL341
WN4600
WN2613
UA1279
F91150
F91752
F93566
F94646
WN2366
UA2345
UA1377
F972
WN2572
KG414
UA788
WN3212
KG356
DL1731
DL3697
F91375
F93861
KG183
KG292
KG593
KG640
WN3131
AA1623
DL336
F9686
WN2201
WN2651
WN1409
WN4642
5X2805
WN1465
AA2986
AA2672
DL431
DL940
F968
WN285
5X2843
FX853
AS220