When is the Houston to Guangzhou 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.

IAH to CAN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Houston to Guangzhou flight turbulent?

The IAH–CAN route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on IAH to CAN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777-300ER · Boeing 787-9, that's rows 22–42. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from IAH to CAN?

The IAH to CAN flight takes approximately 16h 15m, covering 8,288 miles at 37,000 feet.

Is the Houston to Guangzhou flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

IAH

→

CAN

Houston · Guangzhou · 16h 15m

38.5

Turb Score

16h 15m

Duration

7,202 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for IAH–CAN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h16h 15m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the IAH–CAN route

The Houston to Guangzhou route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 8,288 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by United, American Airlines, Delta on Boeing 777-300ER · Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 8,288 miles (7,202 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Houston to Guangzhou Flight Time

How long is the flight from IAH to CAN?

16h 15m

Flight Time

8,288 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777-300ER

Aircraft

The Houston (IAH) to Guangzhou (CAN) flight takes approximately 16h 15m, covering 8,288 miles (7,202 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Return flights (CAN to IAH) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on IAH–CAN

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 IAH–CAN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on IAH–CAN

Boeing 777-300ER

Front

Rows 1–21

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 22–42

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 43+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

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Similar routes

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IAH → LAX

Houston → Los Angeles

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Some light chop somewhere over the ocean — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in April.

Regular traveler · April

The 16h 15m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · May

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

First-time flyer · January

All IAH routes→ All CAN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Houston to Guangzhou flight turbulent?

The IAH–CAN route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 38.5/100.

When is turbulence worst on IAH to CAN?

Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on IAH to CAN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777-300ER (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 22–42. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from IAH to CAN?

The IAH to CAN flight takes approximately 16h 15m, covering 8,288 miles (7,202 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly IAH to CAN?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Boeing 777-300ER · Boeing 787-9 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