Route turbulence forecast
Santiago → London
Turbulence forecast for flights from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Check flights on this route
Get a segment-by-segment turbulence forecast for any scheduled flight from SCL to LHR, with live wind and pilot reports.
Live status with real-time delays and cancellations.
What to expect on this route
Northbound · Great-circle bearing 37°
The route crosses mid-latitudes where the polar jet can influence flight conditions, though exposure is shorter than on genuine long-haul crossings. The route crosses or passes near the Andes, which can generate mountain-wave turbulence downwind when upper-level winds are strong. At tropical latitudes, convective turbulence from thunderstorms is the main driver - pilots generally route around storm cells, but afternoon/evening flights encounter more build-up than morning departures.
- Mountain crossings
- Andes
- Ocean / water segments
- South Pacific · South Atlantic · North Atlantic
Seasonal turbulence pattern
The oceanic track sees its strongest jet-stream activity in the relevant hemisphere’s winter, when winds aloft are fastest and clear-air turbulence is more frequent. This corridor is most turbulent in the relevant hemisphere’s winter, when the jet stream is strongest and sits closer to the route. Wind flowing over the Andes can generate mountain-wave turbulence that extends hundreds of kilometres downwind - most pronounced in the relevant hemisphere’s winter, when upper-level winds are strongest. At tropical latitudes, convective (thunderstorm-driven) turbulence dominates during regional wet seasons and monsoon cycles, typically worst in the afternoon and evening.
- Peak turbulence
- Regional wet season (varies by location)
- Typically calmest
- Dry season
SCL → LHR turbulence FAQ
Is the Santiago to London flight usually bumpy?
Most of the 11,653 km route sits in the mixed band with moderate jet-stream exposure. Historically that means occasional clear-air turbulence at cruise altitude is normal, especially in winter. Mountain-wave effects near the Andes add short bumpy stretches when upper-level winds are strong.
When is the best time to fly SCL to LHR for a smooth flight?
Statistically, Dry season 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 SCL to LHR?
Block time is usually around 14h 03m direct, cruising at approximately FL410 (41,000 ft). Actual duration varies with winds - tailwinds can shave 15-30 minutes, headwinds can add 30+ minutes on this northbound 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.
Related routes
Articles
More on Santiago ↔ London
Articles that unpack the factors driving turbulence on this type of route.
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 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 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 more