Southern California Inland & Deserts Flying Weather
CA · 2006–2025 · 11 eligible airports
A desert regime with abundant VFR but severe summer heat and very high density altitude, especially at the higher Mojave and Owens Valley fields. Strong, gusty afternoon winds with blowing dust and sand are characteristic, notably through the San Gorgonio Pass and across the Antelope Valley, and the Sierra and Transverse Range lee sides produce significant mountain wave and rotor turbulence — the Owens Valley is notorious for it. Summer monsoon surges bring isolated high-based thunderstorms with strong outflow gusts, mainly July through September. Fall through spring mornings are the best flying; summer midday heat and wind events are the worst.
- Daylight VFR
- 93.9%
- VFR days/yr
- 336
- Mean wind
- 6.4 kt
- Most VFR month
- July
- Fewest VFR month
- December
- VFR Score
- 82
Regional standouts
VFR conditions by month
Regional average across eligible airports
| Month | VFR % |
|---|---|
| Jan | 92.5% |
| Feb | 91.9% |
| Mar | 92.4% |
| Apr | 93.4% |
| May | 91.6% |
| Jun | 93.2% |
| Jul | 96.6% |
| Aug | 96.3% |
| Sep | 94.9% |
| Oct | 93.5% |
| Nov | 92.8% |
| Dec | 91.3% |
Average wind by month
Regional average sustained wind
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.4 kt |
| Feb | 5.9 kt |
| Mar | 6.8 kt |
| Apr | 7.7 kt |
| May | 8.0 kt |
| Jun | 7.5 kt |
| Jul | 6.9 kt |
| Aug | 6.4 kt |
| Sep | 5.8 kt |
| Oct | 5.7 kt |
| Nov | 5.3 kt |
| Dec | 5.1 kt |
Every airport in Southern California Inland & Deserts, ranked
Sort by any column. Best VFR Score first.
| KTSPTehachapi Municipal Airport | Tehachapi | 84.6 | 5.4 | 294 | 9 kt | 56 |
| KCNOChino Airport | Chino | 78.5 | 4.9 | 306 | 4 kt | 61 |
| KONTOntario International Airport | Ontario | 83.7 | 3.1 | 310 | 4 kt | 64 |
| KRALRiverside Municipal Airport | Riverside | 87.0 | 3.3 | 315 | 4 kt | 71 |
| KDAGBarstow Daggett Airport | Daggett | 99.3 | 0.1 | 343 | 8 kt | 90 |
| KEEDNeedles Airport | Needles | 99.5 | 0.1 | 358 | 6 kt | 92 |
| KBIHEastern Sierra Regional Airport | Bishop | 98.5 | 0.5 | 352 | 6 kt | 93 |
| KBLHBlythe Airport | Blythe | 99.4 | 0.2 | 355 | 6 kt | 94 |
| KTRMJacqueline Cochran Regional Airport | Palm Springs | 98.8 | 0.3 | 354 | 5 kt | 95 |
| KIPLImperial County Airport | Imperial | 98.9 | 0.3 | 353 | 5 kt | 95 |
| KPSPPalm Springs International Airport | Palm Springs | 99.3 | 0.1 | 358 | 5 kt | 96 |
The pattern in Southern California Inland & Deserts
Across 2006–2025, the 11 eligible airports in Southern California Inland & Deserts reported VFR conditions during about 93.9% of valid daytime observations, with an estimated 336 VFR flying days per year and a mean surface wind of 6.4 kt. KEED (Needles Airport) had the most VFR weather at 99.5%. KTSP saw the most instrument conditions, at 5.4% IFR/LIFR. The lowest-ranked eligible field by VFR Score was KTSP (Tehachapi Municipal Airport).
Neighboring regions
How Southern California Inland & Deserts is defined
CA counties: Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono. (The Inland Empire, Coachella and Imperial valleys, Mojave high desert, and the eastern-Sierra Owens Valley; complementary to southern-california-coast, california-central-valley, and northern-california.)
Educational use only. Historical weather rankings from ATIS Alerts are educational summaries of past observations — not a forecast, flight-planning tool, or safety rating. They do not replace current METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, ATIS, or a weather briefing, and favorable history does not make any airport safe. Always check current conditions and use your own judgment before flight.