Flight winds

Wind and temperature at flight levels.

Not yet available from GMS

The flight level data on this page will appear here once GMS publishes it.

Why the wind turns with height

Near the surface the easterly trades dominate. Higher up, the flow shifts as the trade layer gives way to the upper circulation — which is why a route can have a headwind at one level and a tailwind at another.

The depth of the trade layer varies day to day, and its top is often marked by a temperature inversion that also caps shower development.