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LHR to SFO Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
LHR
→
SFO
London · San Francisco · 11h 30m
52
Turb Score
11h 30m
Duration
4,662 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LHR–SFO

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 30m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the LHR–SFO route

The London 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 United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic on Boeing 747 · Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,367 miles (4,662 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on LHR–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 LHR–SFO

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on LHR–SFO

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

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → LHR
San Francisco → London
Light
LHR → LAX
London → Los Angeles
Light
LHR → JFK
London → New York
Moderate
NRT → SFO
Tokyo → San Francisco
Moderate
ICN → SFO
Seoul → San Francisco
Moderate
HNL → SFO
Honolulu → San Francisco
Light
See all transatlantic flights →
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Frequently asked questions

Is the London to San Francisco flight turbulent?
The LHR–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 52/100.
When is turbulence worst on LHR 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 LHR to SFO?
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 LHR to SFO?
The LHR to SFO flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 5,367 miles (4,662 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly LHR to SFO?
The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, flying Boeing 747 · Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft.