Route turbulence forecast
Sydney → Los Angeles
Turbulence forecast for flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Check flights on this route
Get a segment-by-segment turbulence forecast for any scheduled flight from SYD to LAX, 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 61°
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. 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
- Rocky Mountains
- Ocean / water segments
- South Pacific · Tasman Sea · North Pacific
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
SYD → LAX turbulence FAQ
Is the Sydney to Los Angeles flight usually bumpy?
Most of the 12,061 km route sits in the tropical 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 SYD to LAX 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 SYD to LAX?
Block time is usually around 14h 31m 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 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.
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