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Auckland, New Zealand
AKL (Auckland, New Zealand) sits at 37.01°S, 174.79°E, 23 ft elevation — coastal.
New Zealand's largest and busiest airport.
Computed from AKL's geography and climate
Auckland sits squarely under the mid-latitude-latitude jet, south of which most long-haul corridors run. Clear-air turbulence (CAT) at cruise is the most common source of bumps on departures from here, especially during June–August when the jet is at its strongest. Warm-season convection (December–February) drives the dominant turbulence pattern from AKL — afternoon thunderstorm cells are routed around but their wake turbulence and gust fronts can still affect arrivals and departures. AKL's coastal position means departures often transit from the cool marine boundary layer into warmer continental air within minutes of takeoff — a brief but reliable bumpy transition on warm-season afternoons when the sea breeze is set up.
Climbout typically transitions from cool marine air to warmer continental air — a brief bumpy layer near the boundary is normal on summer afternoons.
Pacific weather systems can cause variable conditions. Trans-Tasman flights may encounter the "Roaring Forties" winds. Generally moderate turbulence.
Southern Hemisphere winter (June–August) is when the subtropical jet strengthens, and that's when long-haul CAT is most likely. Southern summer (December–February) is the main convective window.
Get a real-time turbulence forecast for any scheduled flight out of Auckland Airport, with live wind, jet-stream analysis and pilot reports.
Auckland Airport is best described as a mid-latitude jet-exposed hub. Auckland sits squarely under the mid-latitude-latitude jet, south of which most long-haul corridors run. Clear-air turbulence (CAT) at cruise is the most common source of bumps on departures from here, especially during June–August when the jet is at its strongest. Warm-season convection (December–February) drives the dominant turbulence pattern from AKL — afternoon thunderstorm cells are routed around but their wake turbulence and gust fronts can still affect arrivals and departures. AKL's coastal position means departures often transit from the cool marine boundary layer into warmer continental air within minutes of takeoff — a brief but reliable bumpy transition on warm-season afternoons when the sea breeze is set up.
Southern Hemisphere winter (June–August) is when the subtropical jet strengthens, and that's when long-haul CAT is most likely. Southern summer (December–February) is the main convective window. Peak turbulence window: June–August (Southern Hemisphere winter jet). Typically calmest: November–February.
We combine live NOAA Aviation Weather Center data (PIREPs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs) with physics-based Ellrod and Richardson-number calculations derived from Open-Meteo pressure-level wind and temperature data. If a source is unavailable for a waypoint we show an em dash rather than invent a number.
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