Gold Coast Airport turbulence forecast
Coolangatta, Australia
OOL (Coolangatta, Australia) sits at 28.16°S, 153.51°E, 21 ft elevation — coastal with the Great Dividing Range nearby.
About OOL
Major airport serving Coolangatta, Australia.
- Climate
- Subtropical coastal — mild winters, humid summers
- Nearby terrain
- Great Dividing Range
- Geography
- Coastal — marine-influenced airmass
What to expect on departures
Computed from OOL's geography and climate
The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally — OOL sees its strongest CAT exposure in June–August, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often. December-onwards departures climb into cleaner upper-level flow. The Great Dividing Range sit upwind of OOL on prevailing flow days, generating mountain-wave turbulence that can extend several hundred kilometres downwind at cruise level. The lee-wave risk is highest when June–August winds at FL300 cross the Great Dividing Range at near-perpendicular angles. Monsoon months pump moisture and instability into the local airmass — expect significantly more convective turbulence during the wet season at OOL, with much smoother cruise during dry-season operations. OOL'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 notes
Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) often route around terrain; on strong-wind days, low-level turbulence in the lee of the hills is common in the first few thousand feet.
Seasonal pattern
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. Mountain-wave activity near the Great Dividing Range peaks in the cold season when upper-level winds blow hardest across the range.
- Peak turbulence
- Monsoon months (varies by hemisphere)
- Typically calmest
- Dry season
Departing from OOL?
Get a live turbulence forecast for any flight out of Gold Coast Airport — departure airport already filled in. Free, no signup.
OOL turbulence FAQ
Is turbulence common on flights from OOL?
Gold Coast Airport is best described as a mountain-wave sensitive airport. The jet stream meanders across this latitude seasonally — OOL sees its strongest CAT exposure in June–August, when the polar jet pushes equatorward and routes intersect it more often.
When is turbulence worst for Coolangatta flights?
Southern Hemisphere winter (June–August) is when the subtropical jet strengthens, and that's when long-haul CAT is most likely. Peak turbulence window: Monsoon months (varies by hemisphere). Typically calmest: Dry season.
Does the terrain around Coolangatta affect turbulence?
Yes — the Great Dividing Range lie close enough to generate mountain-wave turbulence on days with strong upper-level winds. These waves can propagate hundreds of kilometres downwind, so they sometimes affect cruise even after you've left the immediate area.
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 Coolangatta 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 moreClear Air Turbulence (CAT): Why Planes Shake in Clear Skies
Understanding Clear Air Turbulence - what causes it, where it occurs, and why it's the hardest type of turbulence to predict. Essential reading for frequent flyers.
Read more