London Heathrow Airport turbulence forecast
London, United Kingdom
LHR (London, United Kingdom) sits at 51.47°N, 0.46°W, 83 ft elevation — inland.
About LHR
Europe's busiest airport and major global aviation hub.
- Climate
- Subpolar — long winters, short cool summers
What to expect on departures
Computed from LHR's geography and climate
The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally — LHR sees its strongest CAT exposure in December–February, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often. June-onwards departures climb into cleaner upper-level flow.
Climbout notes
Climbout is usually unremarkable — most turbulence on flights from London occurs at cruise rather than immediately after takeoff.
Turbulence conditions
Transatlantic flights are frequently affected by the North Atlantic jet stream. Westbound flights typically encounter more turbulence due to strong headwinds. Winter sees increased CAT activity.
Seasonal pattern
Winter (December–February) brings the strongest jet-stream activity — that's when long-haul departures most often log clear-air turbulence at cruise.
- Peak turbulence
- November–February (strong jet)
- Typically calmest
- May–September
Departing from LHR?
Get a live turbulence forecast for any flight out of London Heathrow Airport — departure airport already filled in. Free, no signup.
Popular routes from LHR
LHR turbulence FAQ
Is turbulence common on flights from LHR?
London Heathrow Airport is best described as a high-latitude airport. The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally — LHR sees its strongest CAT exposure in December–February, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often.
When is turbulence worst for London flights?
Winter (December–February) brings the strongest jet-stream activity — that's when long-haul departures most often log clear-air turbulence at cruise. Peak turbulence window: November–February (strong jet). Typically calmest: May–September.
How accurate are Turbcast forecasts?
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.
Articles
More on London turbulence
Background reading on the factors that shape your flight.
When Is Flight Turbulence Worst? A Month-by-Month Global Guide
Winter over the Atlantic, monsoon over Asia, summer over the US — turbulence has a calendar. Here's the month-by-month pattern for every major flight corridor, and the best months to book a smoother flight.
Read moreWill Turbulence Crash a Plane? What the Aviation Safety Data Actually Shows
Short answer: almost certainly not. Here's the full engineering, historical, and statistical picture of how modern aircraft handle turbulence — including what the Singapore Airlines SQ321 incident really tells us.
Read moreBest Seats to Avoid Turbulence: A Pilot-Informed Seat-by-Seat Guide
Physics, not superstition: the center-of-gravity math behind which seats feel turbulence least. Complete breakdown by seat section, aircraft type, and cabin class — with actual seat-map recommendations.
Read more