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SCL to MDZ Turbulence Forecast

Is the Santiago to Mendoza flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
SCL
→
MDZ
Santiago · Mendoza · 1h 0m
95
Turb Score
1h 0m
Duration
94 nm
Distance
24,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Heavy
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SCL–MDZ

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 0m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SCL–MDZ route

The Santiago to Mendoza 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 Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM Airlines on Airbus A319 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 24,000 feet over a distance of 108 miles (94 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on SCL–MDZ

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 SCL–MDZ

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SCL–MDZ

Airbus A319

Front
Rows 1–5
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 6–14
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 15+
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

SCL to MDZ turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

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Heavy
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SCL → LIM
Santiago → Lima
Moderate
GRU → SCL
Sao Paulo → Santiago
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MIA → LIM
Miami → Lima
Light
See all mountain routes →
All SCL routes→ All MDZ routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Santiago to Mendoza flight turbulent?
The SCL–MDZ route typically experiences heavy turbulence. Heavy turbulence likely — stay seated with seatbelt fastened. The turbulence score for this route is 95/100.
When is turbulence worst on SCL to MDZ?
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 SCL to MDZ?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A319 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 6–14. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from SCL to MDZ?
The SCL to MDZ flight takes approximately 1h 0m, covering 108 miles (94 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SCL to MDZ?
The main airlines operating this route are Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM Airlines, flying Airbus A319 · Boeing 737 aircraft.