Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport turbulence forecast
Dallas, United States
DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth, United States) sits at 32.90°N, 97.04°W, 607 ft elevation - inland.
About DFW
One of the largest airports in the world by area and passenger traffic.
- Climate
- Subtropical inland - hot summers, seasonal rains
What to expect on departures
Computed from DFW's geography and climate
The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally - DFW sees its strongest CAT exposure in December-February, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often. June-onwards departures climb into cleaner upper-level flow. Warm-season convection (June-August) drives the dominant turbulence pattern from DFW - afternoon thunderstorm cells are routed around but their wake turbulence and gust fronts can still affect arrivals and departures.
Climbout notes
Climbout is usually unremarkable - most turbulence on flights from Dallas-Fort Worth occurs at cruise rather than immediately after takeoff.
Turbulence conditions
Located in "Tornado Alley," DFW flights can encounter convective turbulence during storm season (March-June). Clear air turbulence is common on routes crossing the jet stream.
Seasonal pattern
Winter (December-February) brings the strongest jet-stream activity - that's when long-haul departures most often log clear-air turbulence at cruise. Summer (June-August) is peak thunderstorm season - convective turbulence is the dominant warm-season risk.
- Peak turbulence
- November-February (strong jet)
- Typically calmest
- May-September
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Popular routes from DFW
DFW turbulence FAQ
Is turbulence common on flights from DFW?
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is best described as a standard profile airport. The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally - DFW sees its strongest CAT exposure in December-February, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often.
When is turbulence worst for Dallas flights?
Winter (December-February) brings the strongest jet-stream activity - that's when long-haul departures most often log clear-air turbulence at cruise. Peak turbulence window: November-February (strong jet). Typically calmest: May-September.
How accurate are Turbcast forecasts?
We combine live NOAA Aviation Weather Center data (PIREPs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs) with physics-based Ellrod and Richardson-number calculations derived from Open-Meteo pressure-level wind and temperature data. If a source is unavailable for a waypoint we show an em dash rather than invent a number.
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