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 LHR Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to London flight turbulent?

The SFO–LHR route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to LHR?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 747 · Boeing 787 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–36. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The SFO to LHR flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,367 miles at 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

LHR

San Francisco · London · 10h 45m

Turb Score

10h 45m

Duration

4,662 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–LHR

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.

San Francisco to London Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to LHR?

10h 45m

Flight Time

5,367 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 747

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,367 miles (4,662 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic. Return flights (LHR 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–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

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Best time to fly SFO–LHR

Turbulence by month

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → ICN

San Francisco → Seoul

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

See all transatlantic flights →

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

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Passenger Reports

A few bumpy patches mid-Atlantic, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · April

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

Business traveler · June

Some light chop somewhere over Greenland — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in January.

Regular traveler · January

All SFO routes→ All LHR routes→

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.

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