Route turbulence forecast
San Diego → Phoenix
Turbulence forecast for flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
Check flights on this route
Get a segment-by-segment turbulence forecast for any scheduled flight from SAN to PHX, with live wind and pilot reports.
Live status with real-time delays and cancellations.
What to expect on this route
Eastbound (generally tailwind-assisted) · Great-circle bearing 79°
This is a short or low-latitude sector, so clear-air turbulence from upper-level jets is rare. The route crosses or passes near the Rocky Mountains, which can generate mountain-wave turbulence downwind when upper-level winds are strong.
- Mountain crossings
- Rocky Mountains
Seasonal turbulence pattern
Wind flowing over the Rocky Mountains can generate mountain-wave turbulence that extends hundreds of kilometres downwind — most pronounced in the northern winter (Nov–Mar), when upper-level winds are strongest.
- Peak turbulence
- November–March (Northern Hemisphere winter)
- Typically calmest
- Late spring to early autumn (May–September)
SAN → PHX turbulence FAQ
Is the San Diego to Phoenix flight usually bumpy?
Most of the 489 km route sits in the subtropical band with minimal jet-stream exposure. Historically that means most flights cruise in smooth air, with turbulence limited to short sectors near weather systems. Mountain-wave effects near the Rocky Mountains add short bumpy stretches when upper-level winds are strong.
When is the best time to fly SAN to PHX for a smooth flight?
Statistically, Late spring to early autumn (May–September) sees the calmest conditions for this corridor. Within any season, morning departures see less convective (thunderstorm-driven) turbulence than afternoon flights.
How long is the flight from SAN to PHX?
Block time is usually around 1h 05m direct, cruising at approximately FL300 (30,000 ft). Actual duration varies with winds — tailwinds can shave 15–30 minutes, headwinds can add 30+ minutes on this eastbound sector.
How accurate is Turbcast's forecast for this route?
We use live NOAA Aviation Weather Center pilot reports (PIREPs), SIGMETs and AIRMETs, layered with physics-based Ellrod and Richardson-number calculations 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 value.
Articles
More on San Diego ↔ Phoenix
Articles that unpack the factors driving turbulence on this type of route.
When Is Flight Turbulence Worst? A Month-by-Month Global Guide
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Read moreWill Turbulence Crash a Plane? What the Aviation Safety Data Actually Shows
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