When is the San Francisco to Zurich 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 ZRH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Zurich flight turbulent?

The SFO–ZRH route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to ZRH?

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 ZRH?

The SFO to ZRH flight takes approximately 11h 35m, covering 5,826 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

ZRH

San Francisco · Zurich · 11h 35m

44.1

Turb Score

11h 35m

Duration

5,063 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–ZRH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 35m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–ZRH route

The San Francisco to Zurich 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 5,826 miles (5,063 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Zurich Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to ZRH?

11h 35m

Flight Time

5,826 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Zurich (ZRH) flight takes approximately 11h 35m, covering 5,826 miles (5,063 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (ZRH 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–ZRH

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–ZRH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–ZRH

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 →

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Passenger Reports

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

First-time flyer · May

The 11h 35m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

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

Frequent flyer · March

All SFO routes→ All ZRH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Zurich flight turbulent?

The SFO–ZRH route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 44.1/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to ZRH?

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 ZRH?

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 ZRH?

The SFO to ZRH flight takes approximately 11h 35m, covering 5,826 miles (5,063 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to ZRH?

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