Home› Routes› Transatlantic Flights› CDG → SFO

CDG to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Is the Paris to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
CDG
→
SFO
Paris · San Francisco · 11h 45m
50
Turb Score
11h 45m
Duration
5,563 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
Turbulence Forecast app — CDG to SFO
⚠️ Light turbulence today
Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free
Download free on the App Store
★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · No sign-up
Scan to download Turbulence Forecast
Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free on the App Store · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for CDG–SFO

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 45m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the CDG–SFO route

The Paris to San Francisco route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 38,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by Air France, United Airlines on Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,402 miles (5,563 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Turbulence levels on CDG–SFO

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm
LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady
ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause
HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store — Free

Best time to fly CDG–SFO

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on CDG–SFO

Airbus A380

Front
Rows 1–27
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 28–48
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 49+
Rougher
Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

CDG to SFO turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → CDG
San Francisco → Paris
Light
CDG → LAX
Paris → Los Angeles
Light
LHR → SFO
London → San Francisco
Light
CDG → JFK
Paris → New York
Moderate
CDG → ORD
Paris → Chicago
Moderate
NRT → SFO
Tokyo → San Francisco
Moderate
See all transatlantic flights →
All CDG routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Paris to San Francisco flight turbulent?
The CDG–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.
When is turbulence worst on CDG to SFO?
Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on CDG to SFO?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A380 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 28–48. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from CDG to SFO?
The CDG to SFO flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 6,402 miles (5,563 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly CDG to SFO?
The main airlines operating this route are Air France, United Airlines, flying Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft.