When is the Raleigh to Salt Lake City 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 SLC Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Raleigh to Salt Lake City flight turbulent?

The RDU–SLC route typically experiences severe turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on RDU to SLC?

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 SLC?

The RDU to SLC flight takes approximately 4h 05m, covering 1,819 miles at 35,000 feet.

Is the Raleigh to Salt Lake City flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

RDU

→

SLC

Raleigh · Salt Lake City · 4h 05m

75.7

Turb Score

4h 05m

Duration

1,581 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Severe

Typical

⚠️ Severe 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 RDU–SLC

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h4h 05m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the RDU–SLC route

The Raleigh to Salt Lake City 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 United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,819 miles (1,581 nautical miles).

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

Raleigh to Salt Lake City Flight Time

How long is the flight from RDU to SLC?

4h 05m

Flight Time

1,819 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Raleigh (RDU) to Salt Lake City (SLC) flight takes approximately 4h 05m, covering 1,819 miles (1,581 nautical miles) at 35,000 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–SLC

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 RDU–SLC

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on RDU–SLC

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

SLC → RDU

Salt Lake City → Raleigh

Severe

RDU → JFK

Raleigh-Durham → New York

light

RDU → ORD

Raleigh-Durham → Chicago

light-moderate

RDU → LAX

Raleigh-Durham → Los Angeles

light-moderate

See all mountain routes →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Mountain Turbulence

Why mountain routes are the bumpiest

→

Severe Turbulence

What it feels like and how to prepare

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

The 4h 05m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · May

A few bumpy patches over the Front Range, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · July

There was some noticeable movement on the climb out that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · April

All RDU routes→ All SLC routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Raleigh to Salt Lake City flight turbulent?

The RDU–SLC route typically experiences severe turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 75.7/100.

When is turbulence worst on RDU to SLC?

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 RDU to SLC?

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 SLC?

The RDU to SLC flight takes approximately 4h 05m, covering 1,819 miles (1,581 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly RDU to SLC?

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