WAW to ORD Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Warsaw to Chicago flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on WAW to ORD?

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 ORD?

The WAW to ORD flight takes approximately 10h 0min.

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

Live forecast

WAW

→

ORD

Warsaw · Chicago · 10h 0min

Turb Score

10h 0min

Duration

4,549 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–ORD

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 0min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the WAW–ORD route

The Warsaw to Chicago 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, United Airlines on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,237 miles (4,549 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on WAW–ORD

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–ORD

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on WAW–ORD

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

See all transatlantic flights →

Passenger Reports

Rough patch over the Atlantic in January — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · January

Flew this in April 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 · April

Moderate turbulence mid-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 · June

All WAW routes→ All ORD routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Warsaw to Chicago flight turbulent?

The WAW–ORD 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 ORD?

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 ORD?

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 ORD?

The WAW to ORD flight takes approximately 10h 0min, covering 5,237 miles (4,549 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly WAW to ORD?

The main airlines operating this route are LOT Polish Airlines, United 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