Route turbulence forecast
San Francisco → Sydney
Turbulence forecast for flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD).
Check flights on this route
Get a segment-by-segment turbulence forecast for any scheduled flight from SFO to SYD, with live wind and pilot reports.
Live status with real-time delays and cancellations.
What to expect on this route
Westbound (usually into prevailing winds) · Great-circle bearing -120°
Jet-stream exposure on this corridor is significant. Long mid-latitude legs mean clear-air turbulence is the dominant source of bumps, typically encountered at cruise altitude. The route crosses or passes near the Rocky Mountains, 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. Westbound aircraft typically fly against the prevailing winds, adding flight time. Captains often pick altitudes that avoid the strongest headwinds, which can also mean picking cleaner-air altitudes.
- Mountain crossings
- Rocky Mountains
- Ocean / water segments
- North Pacific · South Pacific · Tasman Sea
Seasonal turbulence pattern
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 Rocky Mountains 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
SFO → SYD turbulence FAQ
Is the San Francisco to Sydney flight usually bumpy?
Most of the 11,950 km route sits in the mixed band with high jet-stream exposure. Historically that means occasional clear-air turbulence at cruise altitude is normal, especially in winter. Mountain-wave effects near the Rocky Mountains add short bumpy stretches when upper-level winds are strong.
When is the best time to fly SFO to SYD 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 SFO to SYD?
Block time is usually around 14h 24m 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 westbound 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.
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Articles
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