When is the Houston to London route most turbulent?

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

What aircraft operates the IAH to LHR route?

The IAH–LHR route is typically operated by Boeing 787 · Boeing 777. Airlines include United Airlines, British Airways.

Is turbulence on IAH to LHR dangerous?

No — turbulence on the IAH–LHR route is not dangerous to the aircraft. Modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand far more stress than any turbulence encountered. The main risk is to unbelted passengers. Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.

How can I check turbulence before my IAH to LHR flight?

Use the Turbulence Forecast app (iOS & Android) for real-time PIREPs, SIGMET alerts, and AI-powered forecasts for the IAH–LHR route. The app shows minute-by-minute turbulence timing for your specific flight date.

IAH to LHR Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Houston to London flight turbulent?

The IAH–LHR route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on IAH to LHR?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 · Boeing 777, that's rows 20–36. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

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

The IAH to LHR flight takes approximately 9h 30m, covering 5,568 miles (4,840 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

IAH

→

LHR

Houston · London · 9h 30m

Turb Score

9h 30m

Duration

4,840 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for IAH–LHR

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h9h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the IAH–LHR route

The Houston to London 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 United Airlines, British Airways on Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,568 miles (4,840 nautical miles).

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

Houston to London Flight Time

How long is the flight from IAH to LHR?

9h 30m

Flight Time

5,568 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 787

Aircraft

The Houston (IAH) to London (LHR) flight takes approximately 9h 30m, covering 5,568 miles (4,840 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by United Airlines, British Airways. Return flights (LHR 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–LHR

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–LHR

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on IAH–LHR

Boeing 787

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–36

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 37+

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

Houston → Los Angeles

See all transatlantic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

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Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

The somewhere over Greenland section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 9h 30m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · June

Moderate turbulence over the Atlantic — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · November

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch over the North Atlantic, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · April

All IAH routes→ All LHR routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Houston to London flight turbulent?

The IAH–LHR route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 62/100.

When is turbulence worst on IAH to LHR?

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 IAH to LHR?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–36. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from IAH to LHR?

The IAH to LHR flight takes approximately 9h 30m, covering 5,568 miles (4,840 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly IAH to LHR?

The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, British Airways, flying Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 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