What is a PIREP turbulence report?
A PIREP (Pilot Report) is a real-time weather observation filed by a pilot during or after a flight. Turbulence PIREPs include: location (latitude/longitude or VOR fix), altitude, severity (none/light/moderate/severe/extreme), and aircraft type. PIREPs are the most accurate source of real-time turbulence data because they come from aircraft that actually flew through the air. TurboTrack processes thousands of PIREPs per day.
What is a SIGMET and how does it affect my flight?
A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) is an official warning issued by weather authorities when severe turbulence is forecast over a large area. SIGMETs for turbulence are typically issued when EDR values exceed 0.4 m²/³s⁻¹ (severe threshold). Airlines use SIGMETs to plan alternate routes or altitudes. TurboTrack displays active SIGMETs as orange/red overlays on the turbulence map.
How do I read a turbulence severity report?
Turbulence reports use standardized ICAO/FAA severity codes: NIL (none), SMTH (smooth), LGT (light), MDT (moderate), SEV (severe), EXTRM (extreme). Light = noticeable bumps, no difficulty walking. Moderate = definite strain against seatbelt, walking difficult. Severe = large rapid changes, momentarily out of control. TurboTrack translates these codes into plain English with color indicators.
Where can I get a turbulence report before my flight?
Sources for turbulence reports: (1) TurboTrack app — aggregates PIREPs, SIGMETs, and EDR data in one view, (2) Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov) — official US PIREP and SIGMET data, (3) Your airline — turbulence reports are part of the pre-flight briefing, (4) This website — route-level turbulence scores based on historical PIREP averages.