When is the San Francisco to London 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.

SFO to LGW Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to London flight turbulent?

The SFO–LGW route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to LGW?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 757 · Airbus A330, that's rows 14–24. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The SFO to LGW flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,378 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

LGW

San Francisco · London · 10h 45m

36.5

Turb Score

10h 45m

Duration

4,674 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–LGW

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–LGW route

The San Francisco to London route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 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 American Airlines, United, Delta on Boeing 757 · Airbus A330 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,378 miles (4,674 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to London Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to LGW?

10h 45m

Flight Time

5,378 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 757

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to London (LGW) flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,378 miles (4,674 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (LGW to SFO) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on SFO–LGW

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–LGW

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–LGW

Boeing 757

Front

Rows 1–13

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 14–24

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 25+

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 → LHR

San Francisco → London

Light

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → ICN

San Francisco → Seoul

Moderate

See all transatlantic flights →

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Some light chop over the North Atlantic — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in May.

Regular traveler · May

Flew San Francisco–London in May, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · May

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

First-time flyer · March

All SFO routes→ All LGW routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to London flight turbulent?

The SFO–LGW route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 36.5/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to LGW?

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 LGW?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 757 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 14–24. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to LGW?

The SFO to LGW flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,378 miles (4,674 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to LGW?

The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, United, Delta, flying Boeing 757 · Airbus A330 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