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SFO to CDG Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SFO
→
CDG
San Francisco · Paris · 11h 0m
50
Turb Score
11h 0m
Duration
5,563 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–CDG

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 0m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SFO–CDG route

The San Francisco to Paris route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 38,000 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 Air France, United Airlines on Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,402 miles (5,563 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on SFO–CDG

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 SFO–CDG

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SFO–CDG

Airbus A380

Front
Rows 1–27
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 28–48
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 49+
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

SFO to CDG turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAX → CDG
Los Angeles → Paris
Light
SFO → LHR
San Francisco → London
Light
JFK → CDG
New York → Paris
Moderate
ORD → CDG
Chicago → Paris
Moderate
SFO → NRT
San Francisco → Tokyo
Moderate
ATL → CDG
Atlanta → Paris
Moderate
See all transatlantic flights →
All SFO routes→ All CDG routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Paris flight turbulent?
The SFO–CDG route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.
When is turbulence worst on SFO to CDG?
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 SFO to CDG?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A380 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 28–48. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from SFO to CDG?
The SFO to CDG flight takes approximately 11h 0m, covering 6,402 miles (5,563 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SFO to CDG?
The main airlines operating this route are Air France, United Airlines, flying Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft.