When is the Vancouver to Seattle 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.

YVR to SEA Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Vancouver to Seattle flight turbulent?

The YVR–SEA route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on YVR to SEA?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from YVR to SEA?

The YVR to SEA flight takes approximately 1h 00m, covering 127 miles at 29,000 feet.

Is the Vancouver to Seattle flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

YVR

→

SEA

Vancouver · Seattle · 1h 00m

2.1

Turb Score

1h 00m

Duration

110 nm

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for YVR–SEA

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 00m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the YVR–SEA route

The Vancouver to Seattle route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 29,000 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 United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 29,000 feet over a distance of 127 miles (110 nautical miles).

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

Vancouver to Seattle Flight Time

How long is the flight from YVR to SEA?

1h 00m

Flight Time

127 mi

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Vancouver (YVR) to Seattle (SEA) flight takes approximately 1h 00m, covering 127 miles (110 nautical miles) at 29,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Return flights (SEA to YVR) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on YVR–SEA

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 YVR–SEA

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on YVR–SEA

Airbus A320

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

Vancouver → Los Angeles

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 1h 00m went by fast.

First-time passenger · January

Totally smooth August flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly over the plains but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · August

Did Vancouver to Seattle last January and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · January

All YVR routes→ All SEA routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Vancouver to Seattle flight turbulent?

The YVR–SEA route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 2.1/100.

When is turbulence worst on YVR to SEA?

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 YVR to SEA?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (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 YVR to SEA?

The YVR to SEA flight takes approximately 1h 00m, covering 127 miles (110 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly YVR to SEA?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 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