When is the San Francisco to Madrid 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 MAD Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Madrid flight turbulent?

The SFO–MAD route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to MAD?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–38. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The SFO to MAD flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 5,799 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

MAD

San Francisco · Madrid · 11h 30m

36.6

Turb Score

11h 30m

Duration

5,039 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–MAD

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–MAD route

The San Francisco to Madrid 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 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,799 miles (5,039 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Madrid Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to MAD?

11h 30m

Flight Time

5,799 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Madrid (MAD) flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 5,799 miles (5,039 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (MAD 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–MAD

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

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly SFO–MAD

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–MAD

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–38

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 39+

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 →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

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

Parent traveling with kids · May

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

First-time flyer · October

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

Business traveler · March

All SFO routes→ All MAD routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Madrid flight turbulent?

The SFO–MAD route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 36.6/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to MAD?

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 MAD?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to MAD?

The SFO to MAD flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 5,799 miles (5,039 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to MAD?

The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, United, Delta, flying Boeing 777 · 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