WAW to JFK Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Warsaw to New York flight turbulent?

The WAW–JFK route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on WAW to JFK?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a 252, that's rows 18-28. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from WAW to JFK?

The WAW to JFK flight takes approximately 9h 30min.

Is the Warsaw to New York flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

WAW

→

JFK

Warsaw · New York · 9h 30min

Turb Score

9h 30min

Duration

4,288 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for WAW–JFK

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h9h 30min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the WAW–JFK route

The Warsaw to New York 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 LOT Polish Airlines on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 4,937 miles (4,288 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on WAW–JFK

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 WAW–JFK

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on WAW–JFK

252

Front

Rows 1–17

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 18-28

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 29+

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

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Passenger Reports

Moderate turbulence over the North Atlantic — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · January

More turbulent than I expected. The over the North Atlantic section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.

Leisure traveler · September

Flew this in June expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · June

All WAW routes→ All JFK routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Warsaw to New York flight turbulent?

The WAW–JFK route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 7/100.

When is turbulence worst on WAW to JFK?

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 WAW to JFK?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a 252 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 18-28. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from WAW to JFK?

The WAW to JFK flight takes approximately 9h 30min, covering 4,937 miles (4,288 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly WAW to JFK?

The main airlines operating this route are LOT Polish Airlines, flying B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 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