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NCE to ZRH Turbulence Forecast

Is the Nice to Zurich flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
NCE
→
ZRH
Nice · Zurich · 1h
14.7
Turb Score
1h
Duration
248 nm
Distance
24,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
extreme
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for NCE–ZRH

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the NCE–ZRH route

The Nice to Zurich route crosses the Rocky Mountains — one of the most turbulent regions in North America. Mountain wave turbulence occurs when strong winds blow over mountain peaks, creating powerful invisible waves that extend to cruise altitude. The worst turbulence typically occurs in the first 30–60 minutes when the aircraft is climbing over the range.

The route is served by Swiss, easyJet, Air France on Embraer 190 · Airbus A319 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 24,000 feet over a distance of 285 miles (248 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy.

Turbulence levels on NCE–ZRH

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 NCE–ZRH

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on NCE–ZRH

Embraer 190

Front
Rows 1–11
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 12-18
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 19+
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

NCE to ZRH turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

NCE → BSL
Nice → Basel
extreme
MXP → GVA
Milan → Geneva
extreme
GVA → ZRH
Geneva → Zurich
extreme
See all mountain routes →
All NCE routes→ All ZRH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nice to Zurich flight turbulent?
The NCE–ZRH route typically experiences extreme turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 14.7/100.
When is turbulence worst on NCE to ZRH?
Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on NCE to ZRH?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Embraer 190 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 12-18. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from NCE to ZRH?
The NCE to ZRH flight takes approximately 1h, covering 285 miles (248 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly NCE to ZRH?
The main airlines operating this route are Swiss, easyJet, Air France, flying Embraer 190 · Airbus A319 aircraft.