When is the Seattle to San Francisco 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.

SEA to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Seattle to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The SEA–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SEA to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A320, that's rows 10–18. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from SEA to SFO?

The SEA to SFO flight takes approximately 2h 15m, covering 774 miles at 31,000 feet.

Is the Seattle to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

SEA

→

SFO

Seattle · San Francisco · 2h 15m

Turb Score

2h 15m

Duration

673 nm

Distance

31,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SEA–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 15m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SEA–SFO route

The Seattle to San Francisco 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 Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 31,000 feet over a distance of 774 miles (673 nautical miles).

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

Seattle to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from SEA to SFO?

2h 15m

Flight Time

774 mi

Distance

31,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 2h 15m, covering 774 miles (673 nautical miles) at 31,000 feet. The route is operated by Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on SEA–SFO

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 SEA–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SEA–SFO

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–18

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → SEA

San Francisco → Seattle

Light

SEA → LAX

Seattle → Los Angeles

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

LAX → SFO

Los Angeles → San Francisco

Light

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

Light

See all mountain routes →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Mountain Turbulence

Why mountain routes are the bumpiest

→

Severe Turbulence

What it feels like and how to prepare

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

Kids barely noticed the turbulence — just some mild bumps crossing the Rockies. Seatbelt sign was on and off a couple times. Nothing dramatic.

Parent traveling with kids · June

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

First-time flyer · March

The 2h 15m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · April

All SEA routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Seattle to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The SEA–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 40/100.

When is turbulence worst on SEA to SFO?

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 SEA to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–18. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SEA to SFO?

The SEA to SFO flight takes approximately 2h 15m, covering 774 miles (673 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SEA to SFO?

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