Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
KPHXCurrent Weather
Cloud Forecast
About Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix has intense summer thermal turbulence and monsoon haboobs. Morning flights are significantly smoother than afternoon departures.
Is Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport turbulent?
Phoenix experiences some of the most intense thermal turbulence of any major airport due to extreme desert heat. Summer ground temperatures exceeding 150F create powerful updrafts that make afternoon flights notably bumpy at low altitude. Monsoon season (June-September) brings haboobs and microbursts that can rapidly deteriorate conditions. Pilots report Phoenix summer approaches are among the roughest in the US.
- Haboobs can reach heights of 5,000-10,000 feet
- Summer temperatures regularly limit aircraft takeoff weights
- Monsoon microbursts create dangerous wind shear
What is a haboob?
A haboob is an intense dust storm caused by outflow winds from collapsing thunderstorm cells. Walls of dust several thousand feet high roll across the desert, reducing visibility to near zero within minutes. Phoenix experiences several major haboobs each monsoon season, typically in the late afternoon or evening when thunderstorms are most active. Flights may divert or hold until the dust settles.
When is flying from Phoenix smoothest?
November through April offers comfortable temperatures and minimal storm activity. Early morning flights year-round avoid the worst thermal turbulence that builds through the afternoon. Summer flying (June-September) is notably rough, with monsoon storms adding haboob and microburst risks to already bumpy thermal conditions. If flying in summer, depart before 9 AM.
Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 91
| Flight | Destination | Departure | Aircraft | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WN4203
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL8876
Delta Air Lines |
DAL | 17:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA435
American Airlines |
ORD | 17:26 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA6317
American Airlines |
FAT | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
EJM702
Executive Jet Management |
ABE | 17:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN989
Southwest Airlines |
OKC | 17:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA2286
American Airlines |
DFW | 17:44 Local | -- | Forecast |
SY606
Sun Country Airlines |
MSP | 17:44 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3261
Southwest Airlines |
SJC | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA2333
American Airlines |
PSP | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3851
Southwest Airlines |
ONT | 17:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA6248
American Eagle |
FLG | 17:45 Local | mitsubishi crj-900lr | Forecast |
WN556
Southwest Airlines |
MCO | 17:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
AS662
Alaska Airlines |
PDX | 17:50 Local | boeing 737-990(er) | Forecast |
WN2100
Southwest Airlines |
SLC | 17:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4239
Southwest Airlines |
OMA | 17:50 Local | boeing 737-7bd | Forecast |
F94392
Frontier (Fran The Sea Lion Livery) |
DTW | 17:50 Local | airbus a320-271n | Forecast |
WN2808
Southwest Airlines |
SAN | 17:50 Local | boeing 737-7h4 | Forecast |
WN3901
Southwest Airlines |
SNA | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3920
Southwest Airlines |
LGB | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3753
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3792
Southwest Airlines |
ELP | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WS1167
Westjet |
YYC | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3804
Southwest Airlines |
IND | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4613
Southwest Airlines |
DEN | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4608
Southwest Airlines |
MKE | 17:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I234
Netjets |
SCF | 18:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I417
Netjets |
LVK | 18:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA1022
American Airlines |
LAS | 18:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2014
Southwest Airlines |
SMF | 18:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2129
Southwest Airlines |
ABQ | 18:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3356
Southwest Airlines |
TUL | 18:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN116
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 18:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3771
Southwest Airlines |
COS | 18:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G44903
Allegiant Air |
PVU | 18:09 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3537
Southwest Airlines |
OKC | 18:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2757
Southwest Airlines |
MSY | 18:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
AS1423
Alaska Airlines |
SEA | 18:16 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1845
Southwest Airlines |
STL | 18:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2893
Southwest Airlines |
LAX | 18:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3611
Southwest Airlines |
HOU | 18:25 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1647
Southwest Airlines |
ORD | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3354
Southwest Airlines |
SNA | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
5X855
Ups |
SDF | 18:30 Local | boeing 767-34af(er) | Forecast |
|
USC32
Airnet |
SUS | 18:30 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3884
Southwest Airlines |
SJC | 18:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN426
Southwest Airlines |
LAS | 18:35 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3260
American Airlines |
EUG | 18:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3839
Southwest Airlines |
OAK | 18:40 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1331
Southwest Airlines |
SAN | 18:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4551
Southwest Airlines |
ELP | 18:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA2994
American Airlines |
DFW | 18:45 Local | -- | Forecast |
UA1885
United Airlines |
IAH | 18:47 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
G41638
Allegiant Air |
SCK | 18:48 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2493
Southwest Airlines |
IND | 18:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3923
American Airlines |
MEM | 18:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3911
American Airlines |
ABI | 18:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2521
Southwest Airlines |
MDW | 18:50 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
F94766
Frontier |
DEN | 18:51 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3142
American Airlines |
MSP | 18:53 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA890
American Airlines |
STL | 18:54 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4507
Southwest Airlines |
BNA | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA6320
American Airlines |
OKC | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3231
Southwest Airlines |
MKE | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3300
Southwest Airlines |
CMH | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1682
Southwest Airlines |
PDX | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN1050
Southwest Airlines |
ABQ | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA1835
American Airlines |
MSN | 18:55 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA4982
American Airlines |
CID | 18:59 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3266
Southwest Airlines |
TUL | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN3078
Southwest Airlines |
ONT | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA6474
American Airlines |
FLG | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
LF3388
Contour Aviation |
SOW | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA568
American Airlines |
DSM | 19:00 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO5009
Skywest Airlines |
LBB | 19:04 Local | -- | Forecast |
DL1451
Delta Air Lines |
SLC | 19:04 Local | -- | Forecast |
OO6452
Skywest Airlines |
FSD | 19:04 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN568
Southwest Airlines |
AUS | 19:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN2223
Southwest Airlines |
SNA | 19:05 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA4906
American Eagle |
TUS | 19:06 Local | embraer e175lr | Forecast |
AA4039
American Eagle |
ICT | 19:09 Local | embraer e175lr | Forecast |
AA1981
American Airlines |
ANC | 19:11 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I705
Netjets |
SCF | 19:12 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN410
Southwest Airlines |
SJC | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN819
Southwest Airlines |
OMA | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
1I538
Netjets |
CSW | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA3874
American Airlines |
MFE | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
|
5X3867
Ups |
SDF | 19:15 Local | -- | Forecast |
AA4078
American Airlines |
MCI | 19:17 Local | -- | Forecast |
WS1397
Westjet |
YWG | 19:20 Local | boeing 737-7ct | Forecast |
OO4892
Skywest Airlines |
MAF | 19:20 Local | -- | Forecast |
WN4203
DL8876
AA435
AA6317
WN989
AA2286
SY606
WN3261
AA2333
WN3851
AA6248
WN556
AS662
WN2100
WN4239
F94392
WN2808
WN3901
WN3920
WN3753
WN3792
WS1167
WN3804
WN4613
WN4608
AA1022
WN2014
WN2129
WN3356
WN116
WN3771
WN3537
WN2757
AS1423
WN1845
WN2893
WN3611
WN1647
WN3354
5X855
WN3884
WN426
AA3260
WN3839
WN1331
WN4551
AA2994
UA1885
WN2493
AA3923
AA3911
WN2521
AA3142
AA890
WN4507
AA6320
WN3231
WN3300
WN1682
WN1050
AA1835
AA4982
WN3266
WN3078
AA6474
AA568
OO5009
DL1451
OO6452
WN568
WN2223
AA4906
AA4039
AA1981
WN410
WN819
AA3874
AA4078
WS1397
OO4892