When is the Raleigh to New Orleans 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.

RDU to MSY Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Raleigh to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The RDU–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on RDU to MSY?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from RDU to MSY?

The RDU to MSY flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 779 miles at 33,000 feet.

Is the Raleigh to New Orleans flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

RDU

→

MSY

Raleigh · New Orleans · 2h 10m

15.0

Turb Score

2h 10m

Duration

677 nm

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for RDU–MSY

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 10m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the RDU–MSY route

The Raleigh to New Orleans domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 779 miles at around 33,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 779 miles (677 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

Raleigh to New Orleans Flight Time

How long is the flight from RDU to MSY?

2h 10m

Flight Time

779 mi

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Raleigh (RDU) to New Orleans (MSY) flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 779 miles (677 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on RDU–MSY

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 RDU–MSY

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on RDU–MSY

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

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

MSY → RDU

New Orleans → Raleigh

Smooth

RDU → JFK

Raleigh-Durham → New York

light

RDU → ORD

Raleigh-Durham → Chicago

light-moderate

RDU → LAX

Raleigh-Durham → Los Angeles

light-moderate

See all us domestic 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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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on descent but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · January

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · August

Did Raleigh to New Orleans last January and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · January

All RDU routes→ All MSY routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Raleigh to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The RDU–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 15.0/100.

When is turbulence worst on RDU to MSY?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on RDU to MSY?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from RDU to MSY?

The RDU to MSY flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 779 miles (677 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly RDU to MSY?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 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