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SFO to LHR Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SFO
→
LHR
San Francisco · London · 10h 45m
52
Turb Score
10h 45m
Duration
4,662 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–LHR

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 45m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SFO–LHR route

The San Francisco to London 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 United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic on Boeing 747 · Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,367 miles (4,662 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on SFO–LHR

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

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Best time to fly SFO–LHR

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SFO–LHR

Boeing 787

Front
Rows 1–19
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 20–36
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 37+
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 LHR turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAX → LHR
Los Angeles → London
Light
JFK → LHR
New York → London
Moderate
SFO → NRT
San Francisco → Tokyo
Moderate
SFO → ICN
San Francisco → Seoul
Moderate
SFO → HNL
San Francisco → Honolulu
Light
BOS → LHR
Boston → London
Light

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to London flight turbulent?
The SFO–LHR route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 52/100.
When is turbulence worst on SFO to LHR?
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 LHR?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–36. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from SFO to LHR?
The SFO to LHR flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,367 miles (4,662 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SFO to LHR?
The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, flying Boeing 747 · Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft.