When is the Guadalajara to San Francisco route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

GDL to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Guadalajara to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The GDL–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on GDL to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from GDL to SFO?

The GDL to SFO flight takes approximately 4h 00m, covering 1,643 miles at 35,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

GDL

→

SFO

Guadalajara · San Francisco · 4h 00m

31.2

Turb Score

4h 00m

Duration

1,428 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for GDL–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h4h 00m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the GDL–SFO route

The Guadalajara to San Francisco route is one of the most popular leisure routes in North America, covering 1,643 miles over warm Caribbean waters. Turbulence is generally light — the main exception is tropical convective activity (thunderstorm-related turbulence) during hurricane season (June–November). Pilots typically route around storm cells when possible.

The route is served by LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,643 miles (1,428 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Mostly smooth. Hurricane season (Jun–Nov) can bring convective turbulence.

Guadalajara to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from GDL to SFO?

4h 00m

Flight Time

1,643 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Guadalajara (GDL) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 4h 00m, covering 1,643 miles (1,428 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on GDL–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

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Best time to fly GDL–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on GDL–SFO

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

GDL → LAX

Guadalajara → Los Angeles

Light

GDL → JFK

Guadalajara → New York

Light

GDL → IAH

Guadalajara → Houston

Light

See all caribbean flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

The 4h 00m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

Kids barely noticed the turbulence — just some mild bumps near the coast. Seatbelt sign was on and off a couple times. Nothing dramatic.

Parent traveling with kids · October

There was some noticeable movement near the coast that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · May

All GDL routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Guadalajara to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The GDL–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 31.2/100.

When is turbulence worst on GDL to SFO?

Mostly smooth. Hurricane season (Jun–Nov) can bring convective turbulence. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on GDL to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from GDL to SFO?

The GDL to SFO flight takes approximately 4h 00m, covering 1,643 miles (1,428 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly GDL to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data