When is the San Francisco to Zihuatanejo route most turbulent?

See the monthly chart above for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical and Caribbean routes peak during monsoon season (Jul–Sep).

What aircraft operates the SFO to ZIH route?

The SFO–ZIH route is typically operated by Boeing 737 · Airbus A319. Airlines include American, United, Aeromexico.

Is turbulence on SFO to ZIH dangerous?

No — turbulence on the SFO–ZIH route is not dangerous to the aircraft. Modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand far more stress than any turbulence encountered. The main risk is to unbelted passengers. Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.

How can I check turbulence before my SFO to ZIH flight?

Use the Turbulence Forecast app (iOS & Android) for real-time PIREPs, SIGMET alerts, and AI-powered forecasts for the SFO–ZIH route. The app shows minute-by-minute turbulence timing for your specific flight date.

SFO to ZIH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Zihuatanejo flight turbulent?

The SFO–ZIH route typically experiences light-to-moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to ZIH?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A319, that's rows 10-20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

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

The SFO to ZIH flight takes approximately 3h 35m, covering 1,876 miles (1,630 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

ZIH

San Francisco · Zihuatanejo · 3h 35m

Turb Score

3h 35m

Duration

1,630 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light-to-Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Light-to-Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–ZIH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h3h 35m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–ZIH route

The San Francisco to Zihuatanejo route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 35,000 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, United, Aeromexico on Boeing 737 · Airbus A319 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,876 miles (1,630 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Zihuatanejo Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to ZIH?

3h 35m

Flight Time

1,876 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Zihuatanejo (ZIH) flight takes approximately 3h 35m, covering 1,876 miles (1,630 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by American, United, Aeromexico. Return flights (ZIH 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–ZIH

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–ZIH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–ZIH

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10-20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

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 → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → CPH

San Francisco → Copenhagen

Moderate

SFO → BCN

San Francisco → Barcelona

Moderate

JFK → ZIH

New York → Zihuatanejo

Light-to-Moderate

LAX → ZIH

Los Angeles → Zihuatanejo

Light-to-Moderate

ORD → ZIH

Chicago → Zihuatanejo

Light-to-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

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

The 3h 35m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · March

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

Business traveler · December

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

Frequent flyer · January

All SFO routes→ All ZIH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Zihuatanejo flight turbulent?

The SFO–ZIH route typically experiences light-to-moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 3/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to ZIH?

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 ZIH?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10-20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to ZIH?

The SFO to ZIH flight takes approximately 3h 35m, covering 1,876 miles (1,630 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to ZIH?

The main airlines operating this route are American, United, Aeromexico, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A319 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