When is the Toronto to San Francisco 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.

YYZ to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Toronto to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The YYZ–SFO route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on YYZ to SFO?

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 YYZ to SFO?

The YYZ to SFO flight takes approximately 4h 50m, covering 2,254 miles at 35,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

YYZ

→

SFO

Toronto · San Francisco · 4h 50m

3.7

Turb Score

4h 50m

Duration

1,959 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for YYZ–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h4h 50m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the YYZ–SFO route

The Toronto to San Francisco 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 United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 2,254 miles (1,959 nautical miles).

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

Toronto to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from YYZ to SFO?

4h 50m

Flight Time

2,254 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Toronto (YYZ) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 4h 50m, covering 2,254 miles (1,959 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Return flights (SFO to YYZ) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on YYZ–SFO

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 YYZ–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on YYZ–SFO

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

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Best Seat Guide

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Did Toronto to San Francisco 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

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · July

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

Leisure traveler · January

All YYZ routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Toronto to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The YYZ–SFO route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 3.7/100.

When is turbulence worst on YYZ to SFO?

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 YYZ to SFO?

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 YYZ to SFO?

The YYZ to SFO flight takes approximately 4h 50m, covering 2,254 miles (1,959 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly YYZ to SFO?

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