When is the Chicago to Rome 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.

ORD to FCO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Chicago to Rome flight turbulent?

The ORD–FCO route typically experiences moderate turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on ORD to FCO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 757 · Airbus A330, that's rows 14–24. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from ORD to FCO?

The ORD to FCO flight takes approximately 9h 45m, covering 4,811 miles at 37,000 feet.

Is the Chicago to Rome flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

ORD

→

FCO

Chicago · Rome · 9h 45m

53.2

Turb Score

9h 45m

Duration

4,181 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ORD–FCO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h9h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the ORD–FCO route

The Chicago to Rome route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 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 American Airlines, United, Delta on Boeing 757 · Airbus A330 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 4,811 miles (4,181 nautical miles).

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

Chicago to Rome Flight Time

How long is the flight from ORD to FCO?

9h 45m

Flight Time

4,811 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 757

Aircraft

The Chicago (ORD) to Rome (FCO) flight takes approximately 9h 45m, covering 4,811 miles (4,181 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (FCO to ORD) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on ORD–FCO

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

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly ORD–FCO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on ORD–FCO

Boeing 757

Front

Rows 1–13

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 14–24

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 25+

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

Chicago → Los Angeles

Light

See all transatlantic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Rough patch somewhere over Greenland in May — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · May

The over the North Atlantic 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 45m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · April

More turbulent than I expected. The crossing the jet stream section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.

Leisure traveler · March

All ORD routes→ All FCO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chicago to Rome flight turbulent?

The ORD–FCO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 53.2/100.

When is turbulence worst on ORD to FCO?

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 ORD to FCO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 757 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 14–24. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from ORD to FCO?

The ORD to FCO flight takes approximately 9h 45m, covering 4,811 miles (4,181 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly ORD to FCO?

The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, United, Delta, flying Boeing 757 · Airbus A330 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